This article was generated by artificial intelligence and is automatically updated as news breaks. All credit belongs to the original reporters and their publications.

The Dodgers are now actively weighing whether Shohei Ohtani needs to be placed on the injured list due to persistent soreness in his left knee, per Dodger Blue. Manager Dave Roberts acknowledged the team is evaluating what he called a “hard question” — a clear escalation from the day-to-day framing we heard earlier this week. Ohtani was held out of Thursday night’s lineup after reporting the soreness on Wednesday. The training staff recommended a night off and administered treatment, but the fact that the IL is now part of the conversation tells you this isn’t a routine rest day.

Ohtani’s knee situation has been quietly building. He and the team initially indicated the soreness was only an issue when pitching — which became a moot point once he was shut down from the mound due to a right biceps issue. But the knee is now affecting him enough as a hitter and baserunner that he’s missed multiple games. For a guy who hadn’t missed a game since July 4, that alone is notable. Ohtani has been the engine of this offense all season, and any extended absence — even a minimum 10-day IL stint — would leave a massive hole in the middle of the lineup at the worst possible time, right as the trade deadline approaches.

The timing here is impossible to ignore. We’re sitting at the July 31 deadline, and the front office is simultaneously pursuing Tarik Skubal and exploring other upgrades. An Ohtani IL stint would fundamentally change how aggressive Andrew Friedman needs to be — not just on the pitching side, but potentially adding another bat to compensate. It also raises questions about Ohtani’s availability for the postseason push in August and September. If the knee has been nagging him for weeks and rest hasn’t resolved it, there’s an argument that shutting him down now for a short IL stint is the smarter long-term play rather than grinding through it and risking a worse outcome.

Roberts calling it a “hard question” is the kind of language that usually precedes the move actually happening. If it were straightforward — if rest and treatment were clearly enough — they’d just say he’s day-to-day and move on. The fact that the IL is openly on the table suggests the medical staff isn’t confident a day or two off will fix this. I’d expect a decision within the next 24 to 48 hours, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Ohtani lands on the IL before the weekend is over.

For our purposes as fans, the key question is whether this is a precautionary measure or something more concerning. Knee soreness that migrates from a pitching-only issue to affecting everyday play is not nothing. That said, Ohtani has shown throughout his career — in Anaheim and now here — that he’s remarkably durable when healthy and recovers quickly. If a 10-day IL stint gets him right for a September and October run, you take it without hesitation. The Dodgers have enough depth to survive a short absence. What they can’t afford is Ohtani at 70 percent for two months.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: July 31, 2026 3:13 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers