Shohei Ohtani's Dodgers Rotation Return Uncertain After Knee Soreness

Shohei Ohtani's path back to the Dodgers rotation has grown murkier, per Dayn Perry of CBS Sports. After a bullpen session Friday, Ohtani reported knee soreness, and his rotation status is now uncertain.

What we know

Ohtani experienced discomfort following the Friday mound work. Per the report, no timetable has been attached to a potential return, and his place in the rotation is unsettled.

What we don't know yet

The Dodgers have not put forward a specific diagnosis, a target date, or a clear answer on whether Ohtani takes the mound again this season — though that last question is one the club is reportedly weighing. He is not expected to pitch Sunday or Tuesday, per earlier reporting.

The bigger picture

The Friday session had been framed as a step toward a mound return, with the Dodgers monitoring how Ohtani felt afterward following what was reported as a 20-pitch outing. The soreness that followed has pushed that timeline into open-ended territory. With Los Angeles navigating other rotation health questions as well, the uncertainty around Ohtani carries real operational weight down the stretch.

What to watch: any update from the Dodgers on whether Ohtani resumes throwing and what the club's posture is on his pitching future for the remainder of the season.