Shohei Ohtani will not make his next start for the Los Angeles Dodgers as scheduled after having his knee drained during the All-Star break.
Ohtani had been lined up to pitch Wednesday, but manager Dave Roberts indicated Sunday that the delay will extend beyond a brief day-to-day absence.
Roberts said the Dodgers want to give Ohtani's knee the best opportunity to improve before he returns to the mound.
Ohtani remains in the batting order
The injury has not removed Ohtani from the lineup. He served as the Dodgers' designated hitter and leadoff man Friday and remained in those roles for the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.
That distinction allows the club to protect his pitching workload without losing his production as a hitter. A conventional injured starter could be placed on the injured list, but the Dodgers can continue using Ohtani at the plate.
Dodgers can manage his pitching workload
Ohtani threw 67 1/3 innings in 2025 after returning from Tommy John surgery. He did not make a minor-league rehabilitation appearance because he and the club prioritized getting him back into the lineup as the full-time designated hitter.
He has already worked 85 2/3 innings this season. The increase gives the Dodgers another reason to be cautious with both his knee and his arm while preparing for the postseason.
The two-time defending champions hold a 12-game lead in the NL West, giving them room to delay his return rather than push him back into the rotation.
Rotation depth remains a trade deadline question
The Dodgers' rotation remains an area to monitor before the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell are on the injured list, and uncertainty around other starters could lead the club to pursue a frontline pitcher.
Ohtani's next pitching date has not been announced. The Dodgers will continue evaluating his knee while keeping him available as their designated hitter and leadoff man.