The Dodgers have said repeatedly in recent weeks that Shohei Ohtani doesn’t need an extended break from hitting, as he nurses injuries to his left knee and right biceps that have kept him from pitching since July 3.

But on Thursday, Ohtani was not in the team’s lineup for its rubber match against the Mariners because of continued soreness in the two-way star’s knee, according to manager Dave Roberts.

The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani was out of the lineup for Thursday’s game against the Mariners. AP Photo/Scott Strazzante

Shohei Ohtani grimaces after hitting a foul ball. AP Photo/Scott Strazzante

Ohtani had served as the Dodgers’ designated hitter in all 11 of their previous games since the All-Star break — when he received a lubricant injection in his ailing knee and had an MRI scan that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said came back clean.

According to Roberts, the slugger wanted to play once again on Thursday, despite reporting knee soreness following Wednesday’s game.

The team’s training staff, however, recommended giving him a day off.

Roberts said he expected Ohtani to return to the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Red Sox.

In Ohtani’s absence, Teoscar Hernández slotted into the DH spot and Kiké Hernández received his first start in left field since coming off the injured list Tuesday.

Hernández had not been previously slated to start in the Mariners’ series but was called into action as Ohtani’s status changed.

While Ohtani has not made a pitching start since July 3 and has not thrown a bullpen or flat-ground catch session since July 22 — when his knee suffered some “regression” after a 31-pitch session off the mound in Philadelphia — the four-time MVP had snapped out of the slump he endured during the Dodgers’ nine-game post-All-Star-break road trip.

In the first two games of this week’s Mariners series, he went 5-for-7 with a home run, two doubles, two walks, four RBIs and only one strikeout.

However, his knee continues to be a problem, even after Roberts, Friedman and Ohtani all said in recent days that the injury had been improving.

This is a developing story and will be updated.