Shohei Ohtani Misses Fourth Consecutive Game for Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to the Dodgers’ lineup on Monday, but he is unlikely to pitch again this year. Ohtani has not been officially shut down as a pitcher, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that the timeline is tight, stating, "but obviously you’re looking at the calendar, how much he’s thrown in the last week, I think we can all do the math." With only three weeks remaining in the regular season, Ohtani would not have sufficient time to build the necessary arm strength to become a full-fledged starter in time for the playoffs. However, there is speculation about whether he could prepare to pitch an inning or two as an opener. Ohtani last pitched in a game on July 3. He believes he developed problems with his left knee, which is the leg he lands on while pitching. The Dodgers have stated that the pain in his knee did not affect his hitting, but this assertion has become less convincing in recent weeks. Ohtani went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Wednesday and has not played since. Reports indicate that with his back leg unstable, he struggled to use the lower half of his body to generate power. Ohtani has also been dealing with biceps issues and was seen shaking his arm during and after his final at-bat of the game. Following that game, Roberts revealed that Ohtani experienced discomfort in his neck and had a tight hip, according to a source familiar with his health. Ohtani was kept out of the lineup again on Sunday for the finale of a three-game series against the Nationals, marking the fourth consecutive game he has missed. Roberts mentioned that Ohtani worked out on Saturday and "came out of it feeling well." He added, "If nothing else changes … I see him in there tomorrow."