The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to navigate a challenging stretch with several key arms sidelined, even as their pitching staff ranks among the most formidable in Major League Baseball.
Injuries have kept Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and Blake Snell out of the rotation for extended periods this season. The club recently added Tarik Skubal to the mix, providing a boost, yet the absences of those three starters remain a notable concern heading into the final months of the regular season.
Blake Snell is scheduled to make his return to the mound on Tuesday, offering the first positive development in that group. Attention now shifts to Ohtani, who has been limited exclusively to hitting duties while dealing with ongoing issues.
Ohtani last pitched on June 22 and has not returned to the mound since. A significant development surfaced Saturday evening regarding his recovery timeline from a lingering knee problem that has kept him from pitching.
Dodgers reporter Kirsten Watson indicated that Ohtani is lined up to throw a bullpen session next week. That session represents an important early step in his path back to pitching for the team.
The planned bullpen does not guarantee an immediate return to game action the following week. Officials and the player will evaluate how he responds before advancing further in the rehabilitation process.
Reports note that Ohtani is feeling well with respect to both his biceps and the knee concerns that have contributed to his time away from the mound.
Earlier this week, Ohtani addressed his condition and the careful approach he and the Dodgers are taking.
“It’s getting pretty good day by day,” Ohtani said. “It’s hard to tell at this point what the schedule is going to look like.”
“First I need to do plyos, then go into long toss, then go into a bullpen progression. Rather than rush the progression of this, I want to make sure we’re headed in the right direction and making sure we’re taking the right steps.”
The organization is targeting a fully prepared postseason rotation by the middle of September. That timeline aligns with the returns of multiple high-profile arms who have missed significant time.
With Snell set to pitch soon, Ohtani beginning to progress toward mound work and Glasnow expected to follow not long after, the pieces could fall into place for a strong late-season staff.
One possible configuration for the stretch run would feature a five-man group consisting of Skubal, Ohtani, Snell, Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Such a rotation would give the Dodgers considerable depth and talent as they push toward October.
Managerial and front office decisions will depend on how each pitcher responds in the coming weeks. Ohtani’s upcoming bullpen will serve as a key checkpoint in determining whether that vision becomes realistic.
The two-way star has remained productive at the plate while the pitching recovery continues, giving the Dodgers offensive contributions even without his full package of skills on the mound.
As the calendar moves deeper into August, the focus remains on measured progress rather than accelerated timelines. Ohtani’s comments this week underscored that priority of steady improvement over any hurried return.
The combination of returning veterans and the recent addition of Skubal positions the Dodgers with options if the injured pitchers continue advancing without setbacks. Fans and the organization alike will monitor the next steps closely, particularly the bullpen session scheduled for next week.
