Shohei Ohtani's return to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers is uncertain, as the star player reported to the team's training staff that he does not feel fully recovered following a bullpen session on Friday. This update casts doubt on the previously anticipated Sunday pitching return.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that both Ohtani's left knee and right biceps issues, which have affected him in recent months, are not yet completely healed. "That’s the hard part right now, is trying to figure out if he’s not 100% with the overall body, is it worth giving him an inning to build up or not," Roberts said, adding that the club is weighing the positives and negatives of such a decision. "So I think that’s kind of where we’re at right now, trying to weigh the positives and negatives."
While Roberts expressed that he still expects Ohtani to return to the mound soon, he emphasized the club's cautious approach to the two-way player's health. "His value offensively is hugely important," Roberts noted of Ohtani, who has continued to play as the Dodgers' designated hitter. "So if throwing potentially cuts into that, that’s not worth the squeeze."
If Ohtani does not pitch on Sunday, with Tyler Glasnow slated to start, Roberts suggested it is unlikely he would pitch in the opening game of the team's homestand next Tuesday. Instead, the club may postpone his pitching return further. Even if Ohtani were to pitch on Sunday, it would likely be for only one inning.
The longer Ohtani delays his pitching comeback, the less time he will have to increase his pitch count during the remainder of the regular season. "I wouldn’t bet against Shohei," Roberts said. "But I still think that [getting built up to] five innings by the end of the season … that’s an aggressive play."
Over the past several weeks, the Dodgers had appeared willing to be aggressive with Ohtani's buildup, which progressed from bullpen sessions to a 30-pitch round of live batting practice last Saturday. The team's hope was that with a month remaining in the regular season, Ohtani would have sufficient time to prepare for full-length starts before the playoffs, resuming his role as a key starter in the rotation. Ohtani had a 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts earlier in the season.
However, ongoing knee and biceps issues have reintroduced uncertainty into his pitching plans. "I think in the moment, yeah, he still feels that there’s an opportunity [to return to a full-time two-way role], and I’m not trying to say there isn’t," Roberts commented. "But I do think at the end of the day, he’s very aware of our roster strengths, weaknesses and his value to the ballclub."