Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani could return to pitching as soon as Sunday, manager Dave Roberts said, a development that could see him return as a full-fledged starting pitcher.
The team had previously anticipated Ohtani might only pitch an inning or two in the postseason, but recent progress suggests a more robust return. Ohtani threw 30 pitches to Will Smith in a simulated game on Saturday without issues, marking another milestone in his recovery from a knee and biceps injury suffered in July. He has not pitched for the Dodgers since July 3.
The Dodgers' pitching plans for the upcoming series against the Detroit Tigers this weekend are dependent on Ohtani's session on Wednesday, which will involve either a bullpen session or facing live hitters. This leaves open the possibility of both Tarik Skubal and Ohtani starting for the Dodgers in Detroit.
If Ohtani does not start on Sunday but returns the following week, he would still have an opportunity to pitch four or five games before the end of the regular season, positioning him to potentially start in the postseason. However, any start in Detroit would likely be limited to one or two innings as the team adopts a cautious approach to his ramp-up.
Ohtani has had a strong season on the mound, posting an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA over 85.2 innings pitched. At the plate, he has batted .287 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs, leading the league with a .933 OPS. He previously had a memorable outing at Comerica Park in July 2023, when he was with the Angels, throwing a shutout in one game and hitting two home runs in another during a doubleheader against the Tigers.