Shohei Ohtani has spent his career proving baseball’s traditional limitations do not apply to him.

That doesn’t mean the Los Angeles Dodgers should keep testing the theory.

Ohtani has been removed from the rotation indefinitely because of inflammation in his left knee. His won't make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, and manager Dave Roberts indicated that his absence could extend beyond one trip through the rotation.

The knee problem has reportedly lingered for more than a month. Ohtani received a lubricant injection on July 12, but the discomfort remains.

Now the Dodgers must decide how long they can protect Ohtani without hurting their chances of having him ready to pitch in October.

Ohtani’s two-way role complicates his recovery

The good news is that Ohtani can still hit.

He remained in the lineup for nine consecutive games and batted .300 with four home runs, eight RBI and a 1.097 OPS over the Dodgers’ previous eight contests. His knee has done little to prevent him from terrorizing opposing pitchers.

Taking the mound presents a different problem.

Ohtani’s left leg is his landing leg during his pitching delivery. Every pitch ends with considerable force being absorbed by the affected knee. Include his warmup throws and bullpen work, and one start could require him to land on that leg well over 100 times.

Los Angeles cannot treat this like ordinary soreness, especially considering how well Ohtani pitched before the issue became serious. He recorded a 0.74 ERA through his first 10 starts and entered July with an 8-2 record.

He wasn’t throwing ceremonial innings to keep the two-way label attached to his name. Ohtani was pitching like an ace.

Dodgers must think beyond July

That success creates the temptation to return him to the rotation as soon as possible. His importance to the Dodgers should convince them to show patience.

Los Angeles entered the All-Star break with a 61-34 record and a comfortable lead in the National League West. The Dodgers do not need Ohtani pitching every fifth or sixth day to reach the postseason.

They may need him once they get there.

Keeping Ohtani off the mound for an extended period carries its own risk. If he misses too many starts, he may not have enough time to rebuild his workload before October. The Dodgers cannot sit him for two months and expect him to throw 100 pitches in a postseason game.

That is the uncomfortable part of this decision.

Dodgers need to preserve Ohtani for October

Los Angeles must preserve Ohtani's knee while leaving enough time for him to prepare for playoff baseball. A gradual return featuring shorter outings could offer a compromise, but only if the irritation subsides.

The Dodgers must also accept the possibility that Ohtani will finish the season strictly as a designated hitter. It would eliminate one of their greatest advantages, but a healthy Ohtani in one role is far more useful than an injured Ohtani in two.

Ohtani has already shown that he can dominate on both sides of the game. He has nothing left to prove during a relatively meaningless July start.

The Dodgers’ job is ensuring his pursuit of baseball history does not come at the expense of another championship.