What happened: Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 because of a knee injury and has worked exclusively as a designated hitter. His pitching progression remains paused.

Why it matters: The prolonged mound absence has altered the value of Ohtani’s two-way role during the season’s final month. A decision to shut him down as a pitcher would end any 2026 return to the rotation.

What to watch: Watch for the next update on whether Ohtani resumes throwing or is formally shut down as a pitcher.