Shohei Ohtani Knee Soreness Complicates Dodgers Rotation Plans

Shortly after the Los Angeles Dodgers polished off a 4-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night, Shohei Ohtani checked in with the club’s training staff to report further soreness in his troublesome left knee. Ohtani sat out against the Mariners on Thursday to rest the joint, which has kept him from pitching since July 3.

Shohei Ohtani’s Knee Soreness Tests Dodgers’ Depth

Manager Dave Roberts addressed the development before Thursday’s game, explaining that the organization took the decision out of the player’s hands. I just talked to the trainer, and he said maybe tonight might be a good day for him to be down, Roberts said. The two-way star wanted to play, but the manager praised the communication that allowed the training staff to intervene.

“He’s not 100 percent. Very few players are 100 percent. Then what is it? Is it 70 percent, is it 80 percent, is it 90 percent? For me, there’s still that conversation where it’s like he understands … the most important part of the season is to come, and he understands his value with our team.”

Philadelphia Phillies Face Roster Deficits Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline

Dave Roberts, Los Angeles Dodgers manager

The injury raises questions as the reigning back-to-back champions hurtle toward October. Ohtani acknowledged this week that he might have to play and pitch through discomfort, conceding that the knee issue might not fully resolve until the offseason. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman noted that keeping Ohtani off the mound is partly aimed at preventing mechanical changes that could lead to arm trouble.

Trade Rumors Swirl Around Tarik Skubal and the Dodgers

While health questions linger around their two-way superstar, the Dodgers remain central figures in trade speculation.

Detmers is a controllable arm being targeted by the Angels

Mariners Weigh Trade Strategy Amid Confounding Season

Further north, the Seattle Mariners enter August sitting in third place in what is described as the worst division in the sport. ESPN’s Jeff Passan raised questions about the front office’s approach, asking how much a team should invest when it has not proved entirely worthy of investment. While Jerry Dipoto is expected to remain aggressive before the 3:00 p.m. PT deadline on August 3, observers suggest an aggressively careful strategy centered on avoiding rentals—sacrificing trade capital only for players who will still be around after 2026.

Red Sox Pivot From Trevor Story While White Sox Weigh Bullpen Additions

In Boston, the Red Sox are pivoting away from veteran shortstop Trevor Story, with reports indicating the club is giving up on him contributing this season as he recovers on the 60-day injured list. According to Bob Nightengale, Boston is aggressively pursuing shortstop upgrades, keeping targets such as Otto Lopez, Zach Neto, Jeremy Pena, and CJ Abrams on their radar following the acquisition of Curtis Mead.

MLB Trade Deadline Sees Seller Shortage as Starting Pitchers Command Interest

Meanwhile, the Chicago White Sox are considering internal solutions to bolster their pitching staff. Reports indicate that the organization is weighing whether to promote top pitching prospects—including left-hander Hagen Smith, right-hander Tanner McDougal, and right-hander Mason Adams—directly into major-league bullpen roles down the stretch.