Dodgers being cautious with latest Ohtani ailment

Shohei Ohtani waddled through the clubhouse after the Dodgers' 4-3 comeback victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night, the bulging ice wraps around his left knee and right arm creating a penguin-like effect to his gait.

- BY MADDIE LEE

GINA FERAZZI Los Angeles Times SHOHEI OHTANI felt something in his right biceps in his final at-bat on Friday.

That in and of itself wasn't noteworthy - ice after starts is a regular part of any pitcher's recovery and arm care. But for Ohtani, the awkward wraps were reminders of one ailment he's getting over, knee inflammation, and one that popped up Friday night - a right biceps problem.

"More precautionary reason," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton about being hit for in the seventh Teoscar inning, after Hernández capped a rally with a grand slam. "I was a little concerned with my biceps with the last at-bat that I took." Ohtani limited the Padres to three runs over 110 pitches when he stepped up to the plate in the sixth. He worked a full count and then flied out to right field.

Ohtani paused on his followthrough, his lips pursed, before jogging up the line. "It's the same location that I felt a couple months ago," Ohtani said. "It went away relatively quickly, so I expect that to happen again."

That Ohtani dealt with a biceps problem earlier this season had not been disclosed. Even manager Dave Roberts said after the game that he had just learned about it.

Ohtani was scheduled to take off Saturday to recover, Roberts said, and skipping his last pitching start before the All-Star break is "on the table." Ohtani was voted the starting designated hitter for the National League, marking his sixth straight All-Star selection. But even before Friday, it seemed unlikely he would pitch in the All-Star Game given his schedule in the Dodgers' rotation.