Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts must weigh long-term playoff health against the immediate needs of a depleted rotation.
The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't expect Shohei Ohtani to throw a ton of pitches on Sunday, Aug. 30, but the tentative plan was to have him return at the end of the weekend.
Now, new updates have emerged that Ohtani "is not 100%," according to 570 LA Sports' David Vassegh.
Vassegh said that Ohtani's potential one-inning start is "still uncertain" and manager Dave Roberts will announce tomorrow's starter after the conclusion of tonight's game.
Either way, this is a less-than-positive update to hear about Ohtani, someone who hasn't started a game since Friday, July 3.
While he's remained in the lineup as a hitter, there's a chance that could've delayed his impending pitching return, though it's hard to say, and even harder to pull a guy like him from the lineup.
Dodgers aren't going to rush Ohtani's return
Obviously, Los Angeles knew they were only going to have Ohtani make a spot start, or be used as an opener, in their series finale against the Detroit Tigers.
Roughly 24 hours prior to the game, Roberts has now revealed that Ohtani's left knee and overall body still aren't where they'd like him to be at this point in the season.
Sore biceps have also been brought up for the 32-year-old sensation, so it's clear there's more than just one thing going on with Ohtani.
Regardless, he's still able to contribute offensively, and that's all that matters. While the Dodgers just had another pitcher go on the Injured List, they still have one of the best rotations in all of baseball, even without the likes of Ohtani or Roki Sasaki, who was just placed on the 15-day IL due to a blister.
Ohtani must be healthy for the playoffs
It's not a foregone conclusion that the Dodgers are going to win the National League West, but they have a commanding nine-game lead, and it would take a near miracle for either the San Diego Padres or Arizona Diamondbacks to overtake them in the final month of the season.
This is a team that's given a 99.99% chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN, and for good reason. The Dodgers didn't win back-to-back World Series because of a fluke; they're simply that good, and this rotation and Ohtani's presence are a huge reason why they've had that much success not just the last two years, but dating back to 2020 when they won their seventh World Series.
