MLB: Shohei Ohtani's Cy Young hopes fade as knee injury cancels start

Shohei Ohtani's quest for his first Cy Young Award has hit a significant roadblock as his upcoming pitching start for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been canceled. The Japanese superstar was slated to pitch on July 23 against the Philadelphia Phillies, but manager Dave Roberts announced the postponement due to inflammation in Ohtani's left knee.

Ohtani has been experiencing persistent discomfort and swelling in his knee, prompting him to undergo a lubricating injection. This treatment aims to alleviate the inflammation and allow him to recover. As a result of this setback, the Dodgers are prioritizing rest for his knee, leading to the cancellation of his scheduled start. The team will utilize a bullpen-by-committee approach for the second game of the doubleheader, with Emmet Sheehan's start being pushed back by a day.

This pitching absence further complicates Ohtani's pursuit of the prestigious Cy Young Award. Despite an outstanding season thus far, with an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA on the mound, and a .289 batting average with 22 home runs and 58 RBIs at the plate, his pitching statistics are falling behind those of other contenders. The cancellation of starts means he is unlikely to meet the required innings pitched to qualify for the award, making his chances of winning his first Cy Young increasingly remote.