{"id":18514,"date":"2026-07-27T05:28:58","date_gmt":"2026-07-27T00:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=18514"},"modified":"2026-07-27T05:28:58","modified_gmt":"2026-07-27T00:28:58","slug":"dodgers-dont-think-shohei-ohtanis-knee-injury-is-causing-slump","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=18514","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers don\u2019t think Shohei Ohtani\u2019s knee injury is causing slump"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>NEW YORK \u2014 Shohei Ohtani\u2019s swing hasn\u2019t looked right since coming back from the All-Star break.<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers, however, insist it has nothing to do with the two-way star\u2019s lingering knee issue.<\/p>\n<p>Questions about this correlation have cropped up in recent days, with Ohtani starting his second half in an uncharacteristic slump.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40098035\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40098035\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Shohei Ohtani at bat, wearing a blue Dodgers jersey and helmet, holding a bat, with a catcher behind him.\" class=\"wp-image-40098035\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 3960w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=300,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=768,512&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=1024,683&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 105w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=81,54&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 81w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=661,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 661w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball__3_42-b9fd7-0-1.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>The Dodgers\u2019 Shohei Ohtani has been mired in a 7-for-38 slump with no home runs since receiving a lubricant injection during the All-Star break.  <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Frank Franklin II<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Coincidence or not, he is 7-for-38 with no home runs since receiving a lubricant injection during the All-Star break<a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/19\/sports\/dodgers-change-shohei-ohtanis-pitching-plans-due-to-knee-injury\/\"> to address a left knee injury<\/a> \u2014 one that has prevented Ohtani from making a pitching start since July 3.<\/p>\n<p>Granted, Ohtani has been playing through his knee problem since mid-June. And it hardly seemed to hamper him offensively in the month leading up to the All-Star Game, as the four-time MVP hit .273 with 11 home runs, 21 RBIs and a .987 OPS in the 27 games after the injury originated.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>On the Dodgers\u2019 post-All-Star-break road trip, though, the 32-year-old was largely a nonfactor as the team\u2019s DH. He recorded just three extra-base hits, albeit with a double in Sunday\u2019s 8-3 loss to the Mets. He struck out 10 times in 41 plate appearances, while only drawing two walks and driving in three runs. Most notably, he wasn\u2019t impacting the ball with his usual pop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe quality of contact since the break,\u201d manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Sunday, \u201chas gone down considerably.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"single__inline-module inline-module inline-module--newsletter aligncenter inline-module--nypostbusinessunit aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-newsletter\" data-source-unit=\"Inline Newsletter Module Cali - Morning Report\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__inner\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__title-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"inline-module__unsubmitted-title-wrapper\">\n<h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p class=\"inline-module__cta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia&#8217;s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><h3 class=\"inline-module__title headline headline--combo-sm-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The easy answer would be to point at Ohtani\u2019s knee injury, which regressed following a Wednesday bullpen session in Philadelphia and <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/25\/sports\/dodgers-shohei-ohtani-takes-step-back-while-trying-to-return-to-mound\/\">continues to leave his status as a pitcher unclear<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But when asked about that theory Saturday, Roberts quickly pushed back, citing the slugger\u2019s insistence to the team\u2019s training staff that <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/20\/sports\/dodgers-post-podcast-shohei-ohtani-will-smith-injuries-alter-deadline-plans\/\">his injury is not impacting<\/a> his mechanics at the plate.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40098041\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40098041\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Shohei Ohtani in a Los Angeles Dodgers uniform with his arms raised.\" class=\"wp-image-40098041\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 3684w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=300,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/AP_Dodgers_Mets_Baseball_28885-0b3ca-0-1.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Ohtani doubled against the Mets on Sunday, but he collected only three extra-base hits on the nine-game road trip. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Yuki Iwamura<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ohtani has not addressed reporters himself since before the All-Star break.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI can only go by what him and the training staff is telling me,\u201d Roberts said, while refuting the notion that Ohtani\u2019s knee might benefit from him getting a break as a hitter, too. \u201cUnless I hear otherwise, that hitting compromises his health, then I\u2019m going to keep putting him in the lineup.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Over a long season, of course, occasional lulls are inevitable.<\/p>\n<p>Only a couple months ago, Ohtani hit just .200 with one home run over a 26-game rut, then immediately caught fire and reestablished himself as an MVP front-runner.<\/p>\n<p>Even now, his .907 OPS on the season ranks sixth best in the National League.<\/p>\n<p>Still, Roberts couldn\u2019t pinpoint a reason for Ohtani\u2019s recent decline.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI feel like he\u2019s just not squaring the baseball up,\u201d the manager said. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of balls that are just mishit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Until that changes, speculation about his knee will persist.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEW YORK \u2014 Shohei Ohtani\u2019s swing hasn\u2019t looked right since coming back from the All-Star break. The Dodgers, however, insist it has nothing to do with the two-way star\u2019s lingering knee issue. Questions about this correlation have cropped up in recent days, with Ohtani starting his second half in an uncharacteristic slump.\u00a0 The Dodgers\u2019 Shohei&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/shoslump.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1785096572&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=18514"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18514\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/18515"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=18514"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=18514"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=18514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}