Dodgers' Ohtani's Knee Injury Casts Uncertainty on Mound Return Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' star two-way player, faces uncertainty about his return to the mound after experiencing discomfort in his left knee during a recent bullpen session. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will not start Sunday’s series finale against the Detroit Tigers, as originally planned. Tyler Glasnow, who was already scheduled to handle most of the innings in the game, will take Ohtani’s place. The Dodgers have not set a specific timeline for Ohtani’s return to the rotation, and the team has not yet decided to shut him down entirely. Roberts emphasized the team’s cautious approach, stating, “If any pitcher was feeling like this, we wouldn’t run him out there. So that’s what we’re doing.” Ohtani’s left knee, which has been a recurring issue since July 3, continues to cause irritation. His right biceps problem, which flared up several weeks ago, remains unresolved. Roberts noted that the entire body is sore, though the extent of the discomfort is unclear. The situation deviates from earlier optimism about Ohtani’s return. Seven days prior, Ohtani had thrown 30 pitches in a simulated game and was on track to rejoin the rotation after a bullpen session in Atlanta. However, the session was shortened to 20 pitches, 10 to 15 throws shorter than his typical between-starts routine. The following day, Roberts reported that Ohtani was still not fully recovered. Ohtani’s absence from the mound has significant implications for the Dodgers. His presence as a two-way player provides the team with an extra pitcher, but his offensive contributions are equally vital.#shohei_ohtani #los_angeles_dodgers #dave_roberts #detriot_tigers #tyler_glasnow
Nathaniel Lowe hits 2nd homer of the game for Reds walk-off win CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Reds secured a thrilling 9-8 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Friday, with Nathaniel Lowe delivering the game-winning home run in the ninth inning. Lowe, who entered the game as the designated hitter after Eugenio Suárez was scratched with a left oblique injury, hit his first two home runs as a Red during the contest. His second homer was a walk-off shot against Kenley Jansen, sealing the win for the Reds. The Reds, who had won six of their last seven games and eight of their last 10, extended their winning streak. Sal Stewart and Elly De La Cruz had driven much of the team’s success in the first month of the season, but contributions from other players emerged during a recent 5-1 road trip through Minnesota and Tampa Bay. Manager Terry Francona praised the team’s depth, stating, “If we start getting contributions from all over the map, that’ll really help us.” Lowe’s first two home runs came after the Reds trailed 5-0 through four innings. Matt McLain, who had struggled earlier in the season, sparked a comeback with a two-run homer in the fifth inning against Tigers starter Framber Valdez. In the sixth, Lowe hit a 2-1 cutter into the right-field seats for a Statcast-projected 438-foot shot, making it a two-run game. Showers forced a one-hour, 49-minute rain delay after the third out of the sixth inning. Instead of the planned postgame fireworks show, the Reds set them off during the delay to fill the time. The long break did not stop Cincinnati’s momentum. In the seventh, reliever Will Vest walked the leadoff batter, Dane Myers. In a full count, McLain jumped on a fastball that was up over the inner-half of the plate for the game-tying two-run homer.#cincinnati_reds #terry_francona #nathaniel_lowe #detriot_tigers #kenley_jansen
