The Los Angeles Dodgers hope to see a healthier Shohei Ohtani in 2027, and they plan to cut down his appearances on the mound. The Japanese star will avoid surgery for the discomfort in his right biceps and left knee. Those complaints have bothered him since June, but medical evaluation points to recovery without an operation. A lighter pitching burden is the club's chosen route to keeping him fresh. Ohtani remains one of the few players in modern baseball who bats and pitches at the top level in the same season. His arm workload has been a management headache since he returned to two-way duty. Dodgers staff will watch his starts closely through the next season. For a team with championship ambitions, protecting its biggest star comes first.