Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani won't pitch for ‘some time' because of left knee irritation

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced that Shohei Ohtani will not pitch in his next scheduled start and faces an indefinite return to the rotation due to left knee irritation. The two-way MVP received a lubricant injection before the All-Star break and attempted to resume pitching activity over the weekend but still did not feel fully recovered; manager Dave Roberts emphasized the injury is not day-to-day and will require "some time" to heal, though Ohtani continues to experience no pain while hitting and remains in the lineup as a designated hitter. The reporting is sourced directly from manager Dave Roberts with specific details about the injury timeline (last pitched July 3), treatment (lubricant injection), and medical rationale (pitching torque aggravates the knee while hitting does not). Independent search results from AP News and MLB.com corroborate the core facts and add context that the knee soreness has persisted for more than a month, though a Los Angeles Times article from an earlier date suggested initial optimism about a Wednesday return—indicating the situation deteriorated between that reporting and this update. Critical readers should monitor upcoming Dodgers pitching announcements and any official timeline updates, as Ohtani's two-way contributions are central to the team's playoff aspirations.