Shohei Ohtani Receives Lubricant Injection to Treat Knee Pain

Shohei Ohtani received a lubricant injection to treat knee pain, skipping the All-Star Game to remain in Los Angeles and get treatment on his troublesome left knee. The treatment consisted of a shot of Orthovisc, a lubricant injected into the joint to provide pain relief and shock absorption.

What happened?

Ohtani has not pitched since July 3, and his final start on the mound before the All-Star break was scratched. The expectation now is that Ohtani will throw a bullpen session in the next couple of days and make his next start on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Why it matters for Shohei Ohtani

The Dodgers are trying to avoid overworking Ohtani's knee, particularly as a pitcher. "I think it's all contingent on how his knee is feeling," said manager Dave Roberts. "I think we are certainly more prepared to back off on the workload if it calls for it."

What comes next?

Ohtani is expected to DH all three games against the Yankees this weekend. The Dodgers are giving Ohtani a recovery day following any pitching start, with a scheduled off day on Wednesday. "I think it's safe to say even if there isn't an off day behind it, I would like to give him that next day off," Roberts said.

Ohtani has also adjusted his pitching mechanics, focusing on the angle of his landing foot to alleviate stress on his knee. Roberts said he would "highly doubt" that Ohtani will need surgery to address the knee issue.

Workload management

The Dodgers are prioritizing Ohtani's recovery and workload management. "We're trying to be smart about it and not overwork him," Roberts said. "We're going to try to give him a chance to rest and recover, and then we'll go from there."

Catcher Will Smith update

Out of action with an inflamed disc in his neck for the past six weeks, catcher Will Smith has been shut down for this week. The Dodgers hope a week of inactivity will "hopefully calm his neck down" and allow him to build up his strength.

Smith had been hitting in the batting cage and doing some other baseball activity during the homestand before the All-Star break. He won't resume that until at least next week.

Rehab roundup

Three Dodgers will make rehab appearances in the minors this weekend. Relief pitcher Edwin Diaz started his rehab with a successful outing, and the Dodgers are optimistic about his progress.