Dodgers change Shohei Ohtanis second-half workload after knee treatment

NEW YORK — The Dodgers’ expectation is for Shohei Ohtani to make his next pitching start on Wednesday in Philadelphia, manager Dave Roberts said, setting a soft target for his two-way star to return to the mound following treatment he received on his knee during the All-Star break.On Thursday, the Dodgers announced a projected rotation for this weekend’s series against the Yankees that did not include Ohtani — who is now going on three weeks since his last pitching start on July 3.On Friday, however, Roberts said the team didn’t want to rush Ohtani — who was in the lineup against the Yankees as the Dodgers’ designated hitter — after he received a lubricant injection last Sunday to address lingering discomfort and swelling in his left knee.Ohtani will play catch and throw a bullpen session in the coming days to ensure he is ready to return to his two-way duties.“He’ll get off the mound, do a touch-and-feel, stretch it out and see how he feels,” Roberts said.One logical reason for waiting until Wednesday to have Ohtani pitch again: That game immediately precedes a Thursday off-day, which will give the 32-year-old extra time to recover after his pitching start.That’s a routine the Dodgers are likely to follow over the remainder of the season — trying to schedule Ohtani’s pitching starts ahead of off-days or rest him as designated hitter the day afterward if the team is scheduled to play again.“I think we are certainly more prepared to back off of the workload, if it calls for it,” Roberts said.“But Shohei wants to be out there as much as he possibly can.”Ohtani has been battling a knee issue since June 10, when he felt flaws in his pitching mechanics during an outing against the Pirates that put an added burden on his front, left landing leg.The next day, Ohtani was removed from the Dodgers’ game early as a DH after his knee swelled.

He missed another game the following day, before returning to his everyday role in the club’s li...