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Shohei Ohtani is actively working to modify his pitching mechanics in an effort to prevent further left knee irritation, per staff at DodgerBlue.com. The left knee issue has kept him off the mound recently, and the focus now is on finding a delivery that reduces stress on the joint so he can return to pitching without recurring setbacks.

Ohtani has dealt with a string of minor physical issues throughout his first full two-way season with the Dodgers. Beyond the knee, he’s managed a blister on his right middle finger and right biceps discomfort at various points this year. None of those shut him down for long, but the knee has proven more stubborn. For a player shouldering both hitting and pitching responsibilities at an elite level, any lower-body concern carries extra weight — his delivery generates tremendous torque, and his landing leg absorbs enormous force every time he throws a pitch. Mechanical tweaks aren’t unusual for pitchers managing workload, but for Ohtani, the calculus is different because you can’t just skip his starts and give him rest. He’s also in the lineup nearly every day as a hitter.

The mechanical adjustment angle is significant. This isn’t just about rest and recovery — it signals that the Dodgers’ pitching development staff and Ohtani himself believe there’s something in his delivery contributing to the knee flare-ups. If they can identify and correct it, the long-term upside is obvious: a healthier Ohtani down the stretch and into October. If they can’t, we’re looking at a situation where his pitching availability could remain unpredictable for the rest of the season.

Ohtani signed the largest contract in professional sports history to come to Los Angeles and be a two-way force. Through the first half-plus of this season, he’s delivered on that promise when healthy. His bat has been characteristically elite, and his stuff on the mound has been dominant in most outings. But the Dodgers didn’t pay for half of Ohtani — they need both sides of the equation, especially in a postseason race where rotation depth is already a talking point.

For now, this is an encouraging sign in the sense that it’s proactive rather than reactive. The team isn’t just shutting him down and hoping the knee calms down on its own — they’re trying to solve the underlying problem. That said, mechanical changes mid-season can be tricky. Pitchers sometimes lose feel or command when they alter their delivery, even slightly. It’s a balancing act between protecting the knee and maintaining the pitch quality that makes Ohtani one of the most dangerous arms in baseball.

From our perspective, this is the kind of behind-the-scenes work that matters more than any single bullpen session or start. If Ohtani and the staff nail the adjustment, we get the full version of him for the stretch run. That’s the best-case scenario, and I think the Dodgers are smart to prioritize it over rushing him back to the mound.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: July 22, 2026 6:25 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers