Dave Roberts reacts to concerning Shohei Ohtani development before Tigers game

Dave Roberts, the manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, expressed concern over Shohei Ohtani's latest injury development before a recent game. The Dodgers, currently leading the National League West with an 81-54 record, find themselves nine games ahead of the second-place San Diego Padres. The team's success can also be attributed to the absence of major injuries to their starting pitching staff, with the likes of Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell recently returning from extended absences.

However, Ohtani's situation has taken a turn for the worse, as he has been sidelined since April 15 due to a combination of bicep and knee problems. Ohtani was initially slated to start before the All-Star break, but was eventually scratched due to his injuries. Since then, he has been grappling with left knee inflammation, which has kept him off the mound.

Ohtani's performances on the mound have been impressive thus far, as he made 14 starts before his injury, racking up 85 ⅔ innings, posting an 8-2 record, a 1.79 ERA, striking out 95 batters, and only walking 26. With the potential return to the mound scheduled for August 30 against the Detroit Tigers, it seemed as though Ohtani could build up to pitch in the postseason.

However, manager Dave Roberts recently ruled out the possibility of Ohtani's return, casting doubt on his availability for the crucial stretch of the season.