Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts delivered a series of injury updates at a team press conference on June 24, 2026, covering Shohei Ohtani's blister and command issues, Will Smith's continued absence from baseball activities, Kyle Tucker's status, and Blake Snell's rehabilitation progress.
On Ohtani, Roberts noted that the blister is not severe, explaining that a protective aid coming off caused the visible blood during his most recent outing. "The whatever it is that we put on the protective kind of aid came off and that's what led to it," Roberts said, adding that he does not expect blood to appear in the June 24 game. Roberts attributed Ohtani's recent on-mound struggles to command rather than any physical setback, stating that "the fastball command hasn't been there to his kind of expectations" and that the sweeper command has similarly fallen short of Ohtani's own standards. Regarding Ohtani's previously reported knee inflammation, Roberts acknowledged it is being monitored but indicated Ohtani had moved past it, noting that Ohtani "was even confident that he should and wanted to hit" on the day of the press conference, which Roberts described as a positive sign. Roberts also emphasized that Ohtani is fiercely committed to his two-way identity, saying, "He takes pride in it. He prepares for it. And so he wants to be a two-way player and be a leader and that's what he is."
Roberts confirmed that Will Smith has not yet resumed any baseball activities, stating, "He still hasn't done any baseball activities, so we won't see him in either of those places." On Tucker, Roberts said Tucker will take swings at the facility but not on the field, with his status to be reassessed on June 26. Alex Call is filling in for Tucker in the interim, and Roberts praised Call as a dependable replacement, stating, "When you lose a guy like Kyle for whatever period of time to fill in with Alex, you don't lose much." Roberts also mentioned that Mookie Betts has shown offensive improvement, claiming that "his last 10 games I believe he's batting over .300."
Regarding Snell's rehabilitation, Roberts stated that Snell threw 10 pitches off the mound during the team's previous homestand and is scheduled for a 15-pitch fastball-only bullpen session on June 26 at Dodger Stadium. Roberts added that Snell is approximately four bullpens away from facing hitters. Roberts also addressed whether the team's cautious approach with injured players is influenced by the standings — the Dodgers hold a nine-game lead over the San Diego Padres and a ten-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks, per Roberts — saying, "If Blake or Glass or Will was in that same boat and it was a different look in the standings, I think we'd play it the same."
On a lighter note, Roberts mentioned that Pedro Martinez gave pitcher Justin Robles the nickname "the shark," a label Roberts said he immediately adopted alongside Robles's existing nickname "Big Daddy." Roberts confirmed Snell's June 26 bullpen session at Dodger Stadium as the next concrete milestone in Snell's return.