Shohei Ohtani could be back on a mound for the Dodgers as soon as next week.
That possibility took a real step forward on Sunday, when manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani will throw another bullpen session during Los Angeles’ upcoming series against the Braves in Atlanta, which begins Tuesday. After that, the club will decide whether his next step is facing hitters or jumping back into game action, according to The Athletic.
Ohtani has not pitched since July 3, when knee inflammation sidelined him from mound work. A biceps issue has also complicated the process of getting him back. Even so, he has stayed in the Dodgers’ lineup as their regular designated hitter, batting near the top of the order throughout the stretch.
The team is already thinking beyond the regular season, too. Roberts said Ohtani’s buildup will be more aggressive than it was last year, with the postseason plan theoretically pointing toward something closer to a normal starting pitcher than an opener.
That matters because Ohtani had been tracking like a Cy Young candidate before the knee problem interrupted his run. He’s still giving Los Angeles plenty on the offensive side, too, with an NL-leading 159 OPS+.
The timing also lands with the MVP race tightening up. Ohtani is going after a fourth straight award, but Pete Crow-Armstrong currently holds the edge in WAR, 7.9 to 6.9.
PCA’s mix of power, speed, and elite defense in center field has made him the favorite entering September, with FanDuel listing him at -170. Still, a strong pitching return from Ohtani down the stretch could swing things back his way.
For the Dodgers, the bigger picture remains front and center. They sit at 79-51 and hold a comfortable lead in the NL West, but they’re also chasing the Brewers for the best record in baseball and the home-field advantage that comes with it. Getting Ohtani back to full two-way duty would give that push another jolt.
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