Shohei Ohtani, the versatile dual-threat sensation for the Los Angeles Dodgers, might be gearing up to pitch once again.
Ongoing inflammation in his knee has kept Ohtani off the pitching rubber since July 3. Furthermore, his throwing rehabilitation encountered an obstacle due to a biceps problem. Despite these pitching setbacks, he has remained a fixture in the Dodgers’ batting order, consistently occupying the leadoff spot as their primary designated hitter.
However, manager Dave Roberts shared a promising progress report on Sunday regarding Ohtani’s timeline for returning to the starting rotation. Ohtani is scheduled to throw a bullpen session during the Dodgers’ road trip in Atlanta against the Braves, starting Tuesday. According to Roberts, as reported by The Athletic, the organization will subsequently determine if Ohtani should throw to live batters or head straight back into competitive play. Consequently, the star could find himself back on the mound for the Dodgers as early as next week.
With the playoffs on the horizon, the Dodgers’ plans are already factoring in Ohtani’s potential contributions from the mound:
Regarding his performance during the current regular season, Ohtani was pitching like a legitimate Cy Young contender before his knee issues disrupted his progress.
At the plate, meanwhile, he continues to deliver an incredibly dominant campaign.
This performance has earned him an impressive, league-best OPS+ of 159. While public focus is largely on Los Angeles’ quest to secure their third consecutive World Series title, Ohtani is simultaneously chasing his fourth consecutive MVP trophy. He currently sits behind Pete Crow-Armstrong in WAR, trailing 6.9 to 7.9. PCA’s mix of hitting power, base-running speed, and elite defensive play in center field positions him as the frontrunner leading into September (-170 odds via FanDuel). Nonetheless, a few stellar pitching outings from Ohtani during the final stretch of the season could easily swing the narrative back his way.
As a team, the Dodgers hold a comfortable lead in the NL West with a 79-51 record. Still, their sights are set on overtaking the Brewers to claim the top record in baseball and secure home-field advantage all through the postseason. Re-establishing Ohtani as a two-way threat would undoubtedly boost those chances.
