Dodgers say Shohei Ohtani's bullpen work cancelled as knee recovery stalls

Shohei Ohtani did not throw a bullpen session on Saturday as the Los Angeles Dodgers had planned, citing incomplete recovery from a recent 31-pitch workout. Manager Dave Roberts told reporters that the pitcher’s knee “doesn’t feel 100%” and that the last bullpen effort showed “a little bit of regression.”

Ohtani has been on the injured list since early July with right-knee inflammation and received an injection over the All-Star break. He was scratched from his first start after the break, and Roberts previously indicated the pitcher would be sidelined “for some time,” without giving a specific timetable. While Ohtani returned to the mound earlier in the week, his progress appears to have stalled.

"Obviously not ideal, him throwing his last bullpen and going backwards, essentially," Roberts said. "That’s disappointing, because you throw a bullpen to continue to build up."

Roberts added that Ohtani remains slated to pitch again this season and will continue to bat in the everyday lineup. In July, Ohtani posted a .760 OPS, a solid figure for a regular hitter but below his career average. Before the injury, he held a 1.79 ERA through 14 starts and logged at least six innings in all but one appearance, positioning him as a contender in the National League Cy Young race.

The Dodgers have dealt with several rotation injuries this year, including a back issue for Tyler Glasnow and elbow surgery for Blake Snell. Justin Wrobleski has emerged as an All-Star-level starter, and trade acquisition Eric Lauer has contributed solidly, but no direct replacement for Ohtani has been identified, prompting the team to revert to a traditional five-man rotation.