Dodgers start second half with ominous Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith injury concerns

The Los Angeles Dodgers open the second half Friday with Shohei Ohtani in their lineup against the New York Yankees, but the latest updates on two of their most important players created more concern than optimism.

Manager Dave Roberts revealed that Ohtani received a lubricant injection in his left knee following Sunday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The procedure didn't involve draining fluid as originally communicated, and Ohtani is considered healthy enough to lead off as the designated hitter against the Yankees on Friday.

Still, any knee procedure involving a player carrying Ohtani’s unprecedented workload is notable. Ohtani hasn't pitched since July 3 and isn't scheduled to take the mound during the Yankees series. He will likely make his next start Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, though Roberts said the Dodgers are prepared to reduce his workload if the knee continues to bother him.

Ohtani will likely throw off a mound within the next few days to test how the knee responds. Roberts also acknowledged that he would prefer to give Ohtani the day off after each pitching start, even when the schedule does not provide a built-in rest day.

That could be a significant adjustment for a Dodgers offense that depends heavily on Ohtani, who is batting .293 with 22 home runs and 58 RBI. He has also gone 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts across 85.2 innings.

The Dodgers don't appear to be panicking about Ohtani yet, but his decision to skip the All-Star Game, combined with the injection and his extended break from pitching, makes the situation worth monitoring closely.

Dodgers shut down Will Smith from baseball activity after concerning injury setback

The Dodgers' update on Will Smith was considerably more alarming.

Smith has been sidelined since early June with disc inflammation in his neck, and every projected return date has passed without meaningful improvement. Roberts said Smith will now completely shut down baseball activity for at least one week after his previous attempts to resume throwing and hitting failed to provide relief.

The Dodgers hope Smith can resume baseball activities by the end of next week, but Roberts admitted that he doesn't know what the catcher’s eventual ramp-up process will look like. Smith is now expected to remain out until at least August, and Roberts didn't rule out the possibility that he could miss the remainder of the season.

Losing Smith long-term would create a major hole behind the plate and in the middle of the lineup. Combined with uncertainty surrounding Ohtani’s knee, the Dodgers began the second half facing health questions involving two players they can least afford to lose.

Ohtani is still playing, and Smith’s season isn't officially over. But neither update offered the reassurance Los Angeles needed entering the most important stretch of its season.