Ohtani Set to Pitch Against Rays as Knee Swelling Subsides

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Shohei Ohtani will take the mound as planned against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. This comes after Ohtani experienced left knee inflammation, which forced him to exit last Thursday’s game in Pittsburgh.

The star pitcher, who boasts a record of 6-2 with a 1.06 ERA, missed the subsequent game against the Chicago White Sox but returned to action for Saturday’s matchup. His Wednesday appearance will mark his first start since the injury.

Roberts reported on Tuesday that the swelling in Ohtani’s knee has “completely dissipated.” He mentioned, “I saw that he had just a catch-play right now. He’s going to do his touchy-feely deal from the mound in a little bit. I saw him play some catch. Looks good, feels good. Look forward to him making a start tomorrow.”

The game against the Rays is scheduled for an early afternoon, which presents a tight timeline for preparation. “He likes his sleep. It’s certainly not ideal, but the calendar is the calendar,” Roberts noted. He emphasized that Ohtani will be monitored closely but reassured fans, saying, “He wouldn’t start if we felt that we were going to put him in harm’s way. He’s a competitor.”

When asked about whether Ohtani would also bat during the game, Roberts indicated that a decision had yet to be made. In his last outing on the mound, Ohtani allowed four runs—three of which were earned—over 6 2/3 innings in a narrow 9-8 loss to the Pirates.