Friday’s pivotal bullpen session in Detroit will determine if two-way star Shohei Ohtani rejoins the Los Angeles Dodgers rotation this weekend.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting closer to having Shohei Ohtani back on the mound, although his exact return date remains unsettled.
Before the current road trip began, manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani would either face hitters for a second time or throw another bullpen session at Truist Park in Atlanta.
After Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss against the Atlanta Braves, that plan narrowed to a bullpen session on Wednesday or Thursday.
The schedule then changed again.
When will Ohtani return?
Ohtani’s bullpen was pushed back to Comerica Park ahead of the Dodgers’ series opener against the Detroit Tigers.
According to Dodger Blue, Roberts said on SportsNet LA that Ohtani will throw a bullpen tomorrow in Detroit. The Dodgers expect that session to provide a clearer picture of how the following days will unfold.
“I do know he’s going to throw a bullpen on Friday in Detroit, and after that then we’ll know how the forthcoming days look,” Roberts said.
Ohtani has historically thrown bullpen sessions two days before starting.
His return to the rotation had previously been considered possible as soon as Sunday.
Roberts acknowledged Sunday remains an option, along with Tuesday, but emphasized that no date can be determined until the Dodgers see how Ohtani responds to tomorrow’s bullpen.
“Sunday is a day, as is Tuesday,” Roberts explained.
“Right now, I don’t think anyone knows how any day looks until he throws that bullpen.”
Tyler Glasnow’s schedule is also connected to that decision.
Glasnow is currently lined up to pitch Sunday. If Ohtani is not ready, Glasnow would start the series finale against Detroit. If Ohtani does return Sunday, Glasnow would instead work out of the bullpen, with Eric Lauer behind them.
Ohtani’s new pitching role
Whenever Ohtani makes his first start back, the Dodgers expect him to pitch only one inning.
Los Angeles plans to follow a buildup similar to the one used last year, although Roberts indicated the team intends to be more aggressive than it was during that slower progression.
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 against the San Diego Padres.
He threw a season-high 110 pitches in six innings in that outing, also setting his highest pitch count since joining the Dodgers.
Lingering trouble with his left knee then led Los Angeles to remove him from the rotation indefinitely.
Ohtani stopped throwing for multiple weeks and experienced a minor setback following a bullpen session at Citizens Bank Park on July 22.
He was not seen playing catch on the field again until Aug. 8 at Chase Field.
The Dodgers believe their cautious approach following that setback has put the 32-year-old back in a strong position physically to resume his two-way role.
Ohtani is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 0.95 WHIP in 85.2 innings over 14 starts this season.
Ohtani’s value beyond the numbers
Ohtani’s preparation, discipline and ability to balance the physical demands of hitting and pitching make his recovery process unlike that of any ordinary starter. He also possesses the adaptability to handle a one-inning return without losing sight of the larger objective.
The Dodgers need patience more than urgency.
Ohtani has remained in the lineup as a hitter throughout his pitching absence, and Los Angeles has no reason to jeopardize that value by forcing him back too quickly.
If tomorrow’s bullpen goes well, the Dodgers may finally have a clearer path toward restoring one of MLB’s most unique weapons to the mound.
