Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided a promising update on Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound, saying the two-way star is trending toward a start this Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.
Roberts shared the news with reporters during the team’s series against the Atlanta Braves. He indicated that Ohtani plans to throw a bullpen session on Friday as a key step toward that possible outing.
“Shohei Ohtani update: Dave Roberts said he will actually throw his bullpen on Friday, in anticipation of a possible start Sunday (Ohtani usually throws his bullpens two days before starts),” according to reporting from Jack Harris of the California Post. “They’ll see how his ‘pen goes, but he’s definitely trending toward starting Sunday.”
If the bullpen goes smoothly, Ohtani is expected to take the mound for the first time since early July. The club anticipates limiting him to just the first inning initially before turning the game over to the bullpen.
Ohtani has been sidelined from pitching due to knee and biceps issues this season. The biceps problem developed as a compensation injury related to the knee trouble. He last pitched on July 3 and has served solely as a designated hitter since then.
As a pitcher this year, Ohtani has made 14 starts and posted a 9-5 record with a 1.79 ERA over 85.2 innings. His strikeout rate sits at 27.9 percent. Twelve of those 14 outings qualified as quality starts, meaning he completed at least six innings while allowing three or fewer earned runs.
Before the injuries interrupted his season, Ohtani had emerged as a strong contender for the National League Cy Young Award. He also remained the clear favorite for the league’s Most Valuable Player honor thanks to his continued production at the plate.
The potential Sunday start against Detroit would create some scheduling questions for the Dodgers’ rotation. Tyler Glasnow recently returned from the injured list during the Braves series and was expected to pitch around that time.
According to further reporting from Harris, the plan calls for Glasnow to pitch on Sunday regardless of Ohtani’s status. Glasnow could serve as the bulk reliever behind Ohtani or take the start himself if the bullpen session does not go as hoped.
Major League Baseball rules require the Dodgers to list Ohtani as the starting pitcher when he takes the mound. Otherwise, the team would lose the designated hitter for the remainder of the game once he enters. Using him as an opener helps preserve the DH while allowing the club to manage his workload carefully.
The Dodgers can employ a piggyback approach in the coming weeks as Ohtani gradually builds up his arm strength. The goal is to increase his innings over successive outings until he can handle three or more frames. On days he does not pitch, Ohtani will continue serving as the designated hitter.
Glasnow is the leading candidate to follow Ohtani in those early appearances. Other options could include left-handers Eric Lauer and Justin Wrobleski once the latter is healthy. Roki Sasaki remains another possibility for bulk duty, though the club may prefer to transition him into a more traditional relief role for the stretch run, similar to adjustments made last season.
The broader rotation picture has improved markedly in recent weeks. In addition to Glasnow’s return, left-hander Blake Snell has come back from arthroscopic elbow surgery this month. The Dodgers also strengthened their staff significantly by acquiring Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline, positioning them as favorites heading into the final stretch of the regular season.
Once Ohtani rejoins the pitching staff, the primary postseason rotation candidates appear to be Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tarik Skubal. Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki could fill fifth and sixth starter roles during the regular season but are more likely to shift into relief for October.
Ohtani’s presence as both a dominant pitcher and elite hitter has defined the Dodgers’ hopes of making another deep postseason run. His gradual return to the mound would give the club an even deeper arsenal of arms as they aim for a third consecutive World Series appearance.
The next few days will prove critical. A successful bullpen session Friday could clear the way for Ohtani to face Detroit on Sunday and begin the process of stretching out once more. Fans and teammates alike will be watching closely as the two-way superstar takes another step toward full participation on both sides of the ball.
