Shohei Ohtanis return to the mound for the

Shohei Ohtani has not pitched in a recreation for the Dodgers since July 3, though he admitted after Tuesday’s recreation that there’s more going on than just a sore left knee.

“My biceps is not 100%,” said Ohtani through interpreter Will Ireton while talking with the media for the first time since before the All-Star break. “Just [a] similar issue with the knee. Do we consider pushing this? It is still July. So, I think the conversation would be a little different if we’re in August or September.”

Ohtani, who has remained in the lineup at designated hitter, has stalled in his throwing program after the staff scratched a bullpen session tentatively scheduled for last Saturday that was to come on the heels of a roughly 30-pitch facet session he threw last Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Ohtani acquired an orthovisc injection in his knee on July 12 and he skipped All-Star Game obligations in Philadelphia to enable for relaxation and recovery. But it stays unclear when Ohtani will return to the mound, and though supervisor Dave Roberts stays optimistic about him pitching again this season, issues about building back up start to issue in.

“We are getting closer to that,” Roberts said. “You know, he’s a starting pitcher, and then, when you start missing three, four, five weeks of that build-up, then you’ve got to kind of start up again.”

Ohtani, who led off Tuesday’s 7-6 loss to the Seattle Mariners with a home run, clarified the origins of his knee drawback and shared an estimate of where it’s at strength-wise.

“The discomfort was caused initially by the pitching,” Ohtani said. “So, it’s something I have to work around. In terms of running, I’m not exactly at 100% capacity. When I know it’s not, then it’s always a little harder to be aggressive on the basepaths.”

Ohtani and Roberts both said that the Dodgers haven’t reached a level of contemplating shutting down Ohtani from pitching.

“Everything that I’ve heard, that’s not the option,” Roberts said. “I guess anything’s possible, but for me, it’s highly unlikely.”

Added Ohtani: “The knee is where it is in terms of, for it to heal is the most important priority. I don’t think the team has really come to a place exactly where, do I pitch through it or not. That’s still really up in the air.”

In other injury-related updates, Kiké Hernández was activated Tuesday after being out since May 26 with a grade 3 indirect pressure. Alex Freeland was optioned to triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding transfer.

“All you can do is take it one day at a time,” said Hernández, who didn’t play Tuesday. “And the best way that you can take things one day at a time is focusing on what you can do today to get better. And that’s what I did … literally going one day at a time and trying to be the best rehabber I could … the best teammate that I could. … It’s been a really long time. … So, I feel pretty good, and happy to see what I can do out on the field.”

Hernández had already made his season debut late — on May 25 — because of his recovery from offseason elbow surgical procedure. Now, the 34-year-old utilityman is grateful to be back and keen to construct on his four-for-four start over two video games.

“A lot of nervousness,” Hernández said about enjoying again, mentioning that he had a panic assault when first studying of his worse-than-expected diagnosis. “I feel pretty good. … I feel like everything is in a pretty good spot right now. Trying to keep my 1.000 batting average going and be the best hitter in the league.

“[I’m] just happy to be back with the boys.”

Edwin Díaz shall be the next to return.

The right-handed nearer is scheduled to be activated Wednesday — fittingly, when 40,000 followers will obtain an Díaz bobblehead — after lacking three months because of proper elbow surgical procedure.

“He’s checked all his boxes,” Roberts said. “So getting him back in the mix is going to be fun for all of us as well.”

Meanwhile, Will Smith is beginning baseball actions “pain-free” after sitting on the injured record since June 5 with a neck injury, Roberts added, and Tyler Glasnow will throw a live session Wednesday after being out since May with a back drawback.