What happened: Ohtani threw to catcher Will Smith before Los Angeles' scheduled game against Kansas City. An inflamed knee and right biceps discomfort have interrupted his pitching work.

Why it matters: The Dodgers are managing his workload while keeping his bat in the lineup. A return to the rotation would restore his two-way role.

What to watch: The next checkpoint is a bullpen session and a timetable for another mound appearance.