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Ohtani's Knee Woes: Dodgers Proceed with Caution
18 Jul
Summary
- Shohei Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup on July 17, 2026.
- He received a knee injection for discomfort but did not have it drained.
- Ohtani's next pitching start is tentatively scheduled for July 22, 2026.
Shohei Ohtani was back in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Friday, July 17, 2026, leading off against the New York Yankees. He had been sidelined due to inflammation and irritation in his left knee, which impacted his pitching mechanics and caused him to withdraw from the MLB All-Star Game.
Ohtani received a lubricant injection into his knee for relief, rather than having it drained. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the team will carefully assess Ohtani's performance throughout the week before confirming his next pitching start, which is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, July 22, 2026. The team is expected to be cautious with the superstar's workload in the latter half of the season.
Earlier in the week, Ohtani received an ESPY for Best Single-Game Performance for his exceptional outing against the Milwaukee Brewers. He is scheduled to play the Yankees on Saturday and Sunday before facing the Philadelphia Phillies.
