Shohei Ohtani was out of the Los Angeles Dodgers' lineup Thursday for the series finale against the Seattle Mariners, held out by the team's training staff because of knee soreness.
Manager Dave Roberts told reporters before the game that the training staff had recommended giving Ohtani the day off. Teoscar Hernández moved into the designated hitter spot, and Kiké Hernández, activated off the injured list earlier this week, started in left field.
The absence is part of a longer stretch of health problems for the two-way star. Ohtani missed the All-Star Game due to irritation in his left knee and has not pitched since July 3, nearly a month ago. He returned to the batting lineup after receiving a lubricant injection in the knee during the All-Star break, but a regression in the knee's condition prompted the team to push back his return to the mound last weekend.
On Tuesday, Ohtani revealed he is also dealing with a biceps issue. The combination of injuries has removed him from the rotation with no set return date. He had entered the season hoping to chase his first Cy Young Award.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman addressed the biceps concern Wednesday, saying that Ohtani would be pitching if his knee were at 100 percent and that the organization plans to get him back on the mound before the season ends, according to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya.
Whether Thursday's rest affects his timeline at the plate remains to be seen.
