Ohtani Scratched From Sunday Start Amid Knee, Biceps Trouble

Shohei Ohtani will not take the mound Sunday against the Detroit Tigers after knee discomfort surfaced during a bullpen session Friday. Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Saturday's 2-1 loss that Ohtani's knee still isn't pain-free, and the two-way star is also dealing with minor biceps issues.

Tyler Glasnow, originally slated to pitch after Ohtani, will now start Sunday's game instead. Roberts said Ohtani's next pitching outing remains undetermined, adding uncertainty to the Dodgers' rotation plans as the team navigates the second half of the season. bet on water polo

Ohtani last pitched on July 3, throwing six innings in a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres. He had been expected to work only an inning or two Sunday as he continues rebuilding his workload on the mound. Roberts acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, saying it's unclear whether pushing Ohtani for a short outing is worthwhile if he isn't fully healthy.

The setback hasn't affected Ohtani's bat. He's hitting .274 with 12 home runs in 45 games since his last pitching appearance. The Dodgers' rotation has also gained flexibility with the addition of Tarik Skubal, easing the pressure to rush Ohtani back to a two-way role.