LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� says his right biceps is not 100% in addition to his sore left knee, and both factored into the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar not throwing a bullpen last week.
The four-time MVP hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3 but has continued to play regularly as the designated hitter for Los Angeles.
鈥淢y biceps is not 100%,鈥� Ohtani said through a translator Tuesday night while speaking with media for the first time since before the All-Star break. “Just similar issue with the knee. Do we consider pushing this? It is still July. So I think the conversation would be a little different if we鈥檙e in August or September.鈥�
Ohtani hit his 10th leadoff home run of the season in a to the Seattle Mariners. It was his 28th leadoff shot as a Dodger, tying him with the late Davey Lopes for second all-time. Ohtani finished 3 for 4 with a walk, a double, three RBIs and a run.
“I do think that the road trip was exhausting for everyone. I do think that with the day off, he came in fresh and looked more like himself,” manager Dave Roberts said. 鈥淐ertainly the way he swung the bat, the way he鈥檚 running, he鈥檚 not compromised. Until I hear otherwise, he鈥檚 going to be in the lineup.鈥�
Ohtani had a lubricant injection in his knee just before the All-Star break and he skipped the game in Philadelphia to rest.
鈥淚 really took the All-Star break as that opportunity to really stay off my knees,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really something that I have to just deal with over the course of the season.鈥�
Ohtani said in Japanese that the injection wasn’t a cure-all and he mentioned 鈥渁 decision that I’m going to ultimately make after the season’s over鈥� without clarifying what he was referring to.
He explained the lingering knee soreness was caused by pitching.
鈥淚n terms of running, I鈥檓 not exactly at 100% capacity,鈥� he said. “When I know it鈥檚 not, then it鈥檚 always a little harder to be aggressive on the basepath.鈥�
Ohtani said his knee is getting better, which is a priority.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think the team has really come to a place exactly where, do I pitch through it or not?鈥� he said. “That鈥檚 still really up in the air.鈥�
If Ohtani’s health issues don’t improve, Roberts was asked whether it’s possible the right-hander wouldn’t pitch in the postseason for the two-time defending World Series champions.
鈥淚 guess anything鈥檚 possible, but for me, it鈥檚 highly unlikely,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淕iven where we鈥檙e at in the calendar, if the knee continues to get better, the arm continues to feel better, I would expect him to pitch. All I know is that we鈥檙e trying to, I鈥檓 trying to, give him the best opportunity to be as healthy as possible, so he can help us on both ends of the baseball.鈥�
Roberts said when Ohtani is cleared to pitch again, he’ll need to go through a buildup process.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone can kind of foresee what that looks like,鈥� the manager said.
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