Shohei Ohtani will take the mound Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Tuesday, alleviating concerns after the two-way star exited his last start with knee inflammation. The reigning MVP left last Thursday's game in Pittsburgh due to left knee swelling but returned to the lineup the following Saturday.
Ohtani (6-2, 1.06 ERA) has been dominant this season, posting the best ERA among qualified starters while also serving as a premier hitter. He missed only one game after the scare — the Friday contest against the White Sox in Chicago — before returning for Saturday's action. Roberts said the swelling has "completely dissipated," offering full clearance for the start.
The Dodgers, sitting atop the NL West, rely heavily on Ohtani's production on both sides of the ball. His start Wednesday comes against a Rays team battling for an AL wild-card spot, adding playoff-seeding significance to the midsummer matchup. Every win matters as Los Angeles tries to hold off the surging Padres and Giants.
Wednesday's start at Dodger Stadium marks a critical test of Ohtani's durability in a season already filled with historic milestones. The Dodgers will monitor his workload closely, but for now, the two-way star is full go. Fans can expect another vintage Ohtani outing as he continues his MVP campaign.
"The swelling is gone, and he feels good," Roberts said. "We're confident he can go out and compete at his usual level." A full bullpen session on Tuesday in Los Angeles further confirmed Ohtani's readiness, per the manager.