"Ohtani's knee has actually worsened": LAD on high alert, scheduled bullpen session also cancelled

*This content was translated by AI.

Shohei Ohtani (32, LA Dodgers), who was preparing to return as a pitcher, has had his rehabilitation process halted.

On the 26th (Korean time), U.S. media outlet MLB Trade Rumors reported, "The Dodgers have cancelled Ohtani's scheduled pitching plan for this weekend. Although he threw 31 pitches earlier this week, he has not recovered sufficiently."

Ohtani has not taken the mound for 20 days since his appearance in a home game against the San Diego Padres on the 6th. Due to right knee pain, his first appearance of the second half is now off the table. After receiving an injection during the All-Star break, he was expected to resume bullpen sessions earlier this week, raising hopes for his return.

However, reports indicate his condition has actually deteriorated. In an interview with local U.S. reporters, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated, "Ohtani's physical condition does not appear to be at 100%. His condition has actually worsened since the last bullpen session. It is clearly not an ideal situation. Bullpen sessions are meant to move forward to the next stage, and it is disappointing that he could not do so."

The knee injury appears to be affecting his performance at the plate as well. In a road game against the New York Mets on this day, Ohtani started as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter, recording 5 at-bats with no hits and one strikeout. His season batting average dropped from 0.286 to 0.282, and his OPS (on-base plus slugging) fell from 0.919 to 0.908.

His return as a pitcher remains uncertain for now. While Manager Roberts had anticipated Ohtani would return to pitch sometime this year, he did not specify an exact return date.

This puts the Dodgers, who are aiming for their third consecutive World Series title, on high alert. Ohtani had been performing as an ace with 14 games, 8 wins, 2 losses, a 1.79 ERA, and 95 strikeouts over 85⅔ innings, making him a strong candidate for the Cy Young Award.

However, with Ohtani sidelined, the Dodgers' pitching staff has been significantly shaken. Blake Snell is already out for the season after elbow surgery, and Tyler Glasnow missed half the season due to a back injury. Although Justin Verlander and Eric Lauer are available, they are insufficient to fill the void left by Ohtani.

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*This content was translated by AI.