Dodgers' Ohtani says knee improving but biceps still an issue - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Dodgers, tied for the sport's best record and owners of its largest division lead, are only getting healthier.

Enrique Hernandez, their effervescent super-utility player, was activated off the injured list Tuesday. Edwin Diaz, their star closer, will follow Wednesday. Blake Snell, their $182 million starting pitcher, could be back next week. And Will Smith, their every-day catcher, has started baseball activities, an encouraging sign in his recovery from a neck injury.

But Shohei Ohtani's pitching status is still in question.

Ohtani, 32, was scratched from his first start after the All-Star break July 22 because of continued discomfort in his left knee. He threw a 30-pitch bullpen session in Philadelphia that day, but another pen scheduled for three days later was ultimately postponed. Speaking after a 7-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners, one in which he hit a leadoff homer and later raced from home to third after his double was bobbled in the right-center-field gap, Ohtani said the knee is «getting better» but revealed his right biceps also continues to be a problem.

«Just similar issue with the knee — do we consider pushing this?» Ohtani said through an interpreter while addressing the media for the first time since July 11. «It is still July. I think the conversations would be a little different if we're in August or September.»

Ohtani has not played catch in six days and has not pitched in a game since July 3. Ohtani threw a season-high 110 pitches that night, then exited after irritating his right biceps on a swing. The biceps issue seemingly resolved itself shortly thereafter, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it flared up again — along with his left knee — while throwing off the