Shohei Ohtani’s return to pitching remains unclear after scheduled start pushed back
Ohtani’s Pitching Status
Shohei Ohtani will not make his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies, as his left knee continues to limit his mound work. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated that Ohtani’s return to pitching will take “some time” and will not be a day-to-day decision. This comes after initial reports on his recovery from an injection in his left knee were promising, but his knee’s response to playing catch led the team to push back his start.
Roberts stated that the decision is partly precautionary, emphasizing that the team is in a strong position and does not want to risk further injury. He noted that while Ohtani could likely pitch, the benefits do not currently outweigh the costs at this point in the season. The manager did, however, rule out shutting down Ohtani from pitching for the remainder of the season.
Ohtani’s last appearance as a pitcher was on July 3, where he allowed three earned runs over six innings in a 4-3 victory against the Padres. He has recorded a 4.38 ERA in his last 24 2/3 innings pitched. Prior to this, Ohtani had posted a 0.74 ERA in his first 10 starts and 61 frames. The Dodgers had previously held Ohtani out of his last scheduled start before the All-Star break, and he also skipped the All-Star Game to allow for more rest and to receive a lubricating Orthovisc shot in his knee.
Impact on Hitting and Team Strategy
Despite the pitching setback, Ohtani will continue his regular designated hitter duties, as hitting does not appear to aggravate his knee. He demonstrated his offensive presence on Sunday, driving in the Dodgers’ first run with a third-inning double and later contributing an RBI single in an 8-2 win over the New York Yankees in the first game of a doubleheader. He felt well enough after the first game to be in the lineup for the second game, even after fouling a pitch into his left knee during the fifth inning.
The Dodgers’ strategy focuses on maintaining Ohtani’s health for October, particularly to avoid any injury that could also affect his hitting. The team has managed Ohtani’s rest throughout the year, providing him with off-days from the DH role either on starting days or around his pitching appearances. After undergoing UCL surgery that prevented him from pitching in 2024, Ohtani recorded a 2.87 ERA over 47 regular-season innings in 2025, adding 20 1/3 pitching innings during the playoffs.
The team’s pitching depth has been crucial in managing injuries. With Ohtani unavailable to pitch and both Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the 60-day injured list, the Dodgers’ rotation still includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki, Emmet Sheehan, and Eric Lauer. Yamamoto pitched a complete game against the Yankees, holding them to four hits and striking out seven to improve to 10-6, which helped lighten the bullpen’s workload.
Rotation Adjustments and Future Outlook
To fill Ohtani’s spot in the rotation, the Dodgers moved Sheehan’s start to Monday. Wrobleski and Lauer are scheduled to start the other games against the Phillies. The Dodgers are committed to a six-to-seven man rotation, but with upcoming off-days, they may not require a sixth starter through the end of the month, potentially utilizing a spot start or bullpen day to gain more time.
Snell is also progressing in his return from the injured list, having thrown 1-1/3 innings for triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday as part of his rehab assignment, striking out all four outs. He is scheduled to pitch again on Friday, targeting three innings. The Dodgers are not expected to rush Snell’s return, despite Ohtani’s current pitching status. The team’s deep roster has allowed them to navigate various injuries while maintaining a strong position in the league.
The Dodgers’ focus remains on having Ohtani in optimal condition for the postseason, with Roberts stating they are being proactive in managing his knee issue.
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Source: mlbtraderumors.com
