Ohtani Returns to Dodgers Lineup Five Days After Knee Injection, Pitching Plans Still Monitored

Shohei Ohtani entered the Dodgers starting lineup at the top of the order Friday against the New York Yankees, five days after receiving an orthovisc injection in his left knee. The shot lubricated the joint rather than draining fluid, manager Dave Roberts said. Ohtani is expected to remain in the lineup for all three games of the series.

He is scheduled to pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. That start would provide additional recovery time before a team off day. Ohtani is set to play catch and throw off the mound in the coming days, with the team monitoring his response before confirming the outing.

Roberts said he would like to rest Ohtani the day after he pitches when a start cannot be scheduled before an off day. “It’s all contingent on how his knee is feeling,” Roberts said of the second-half workload. ” Roberts added that he highly doubts Ohtani will need offseason surgery.

The Dodgers adjusted their rotation after the All-Star break so that Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan and Yoshinobu Yamamoto face the Yankees in that order. Left-handers Eric Lauer and Justin Wrobleski are slated to start against the Phillies ahead of Ohtani.

The team is shutting down catcher Will Smith from all baseball activities for one week because of a neck injury that has sidelined him since early June.

Smith’s return is now expected no earlier than August. Utility player Kiké Hernández is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday, and left-hander Blake Snell is set to make his first minor-league rehab start Saturday, targeting two innings.