Ohtani’s pitching return put on hold after renewed knee soreness; Dodgers weigh two-way trade-offs
After a short Friday bullpen (about 20 pitches), Shohei Ohtani reported renewed left-knee soreness and will not make a planned mound appearance this weekend. The Dodgers — who stress they still expect him to be
By SLAM Intel Desk · 4 min read · Updated Aug 29, 2026, 8:42 PM EDT
Lede — short-term setback, long-term question
Shohei Ohtani's planned ramp back to the mound has been paused after a roughly 20-pitch bullpen on Friday left the two-way superstar feeling soreness in his previously troublesome left knee. The Dodgers confirmed he will not pitch Sunday — and a Tuesday appearance is also off the table — leaving his pitching timeline unclear and the once-promising late-season comeback in doubt.
That is not the same as saying Ohtani won’t pitch this year, but the club’s public statements have shifted from cautious optimism to an admission that he is not yet where they hoped he'd be.
What we know (and what the Dodgers have said)
Ohtani hasn't pitched since early July because of recurring left-knee inflammation; as his throwing program intensified he also reported right-biceps irritation and 'overall body' issues, per the team report.
After the Friday bullpen — shorter than a typical pre-start session — manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani 'isn't 100 percent' and confirmed the team will reassess once it returns to Los Angeles. Before the shutdown he was 8–2 with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts.
Meanwhile, Ohtani has continued to hit as the club’s designated hitter. The Dodgers have not set a target date for a pitching return and said they would not hastily send him out if the medical picture is unclear.
Why the Dodgers can afford to be cautious
This isn't just prudence for prudence’s sake. Los Angeles enters the stretch with a rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. With that depth, the team has the luxury of prioritizing Ohtani's long-term health and offensive value over adding innings now.
The club explicitly framed the decision that way: if further throwing risks his effectiveness as a hitter — where he remains uniquely valuable — they prefer to protect that asset rather than push for marginal pitching innings late in the season.
What to watch next
Key near-term signals: (1) any new imaging or medical update that clarifies whether the knee issue is inflammatory, mechanical, or structural; (2) whether the Dodgers change Ohtani's role (short-inning appearances, bulk relief, or a push to multi-inning starts); and (3) whether his offensive slump deepens or rebounds as the throwing program is adjusted.
A clearer plan from the Dodgers’ medical staff — or a decision to shut him down for a defined period — will be the moment the club moves from 'wait and see' to a firm, public timeline. Until then, every bullpen and every DH appearance will be examined for signs the two-way experiment can continue into October.
SLAM Explains
The complicated part, made simple.
Two-way players and late-season risk: why the Dodgers can’t simply rush Ohtani back
A two-way player like Ohtani provides separate, large sources of value: as a pitcher he can change games on the mound; as a hitter he is a middle-of-order run producer. Throwing more often increases injury risk and fatigue, which can reduce batting effectiveness. The Dodgers must weigh short-term pitching innings against a likely permanent dent in offensive output if his body is compromised.
Why it matters here
Understanding this trade-off shows why LA might hold Ohtani back even when a return appears within reach: they have a deep rotation and need his offense intact for the postseason.
Sources and attribution
- MLBPublished Aug 29, 2026, 5:42 PM EDT
Reporting attributed to MLB.
- CBS SportsPublished Aug 29, 2026, 5:10 PM EDT
Reporting attributed to CBS Sports.
- Yahoo SportsPublished Aug 29, 2026, 4:45 PM EDT
Reporting attributed to Yahoo Sports.
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