The Dodgers are getting closer to having their rotation back in order, and Shohei Ohtani may be the next piece to slide into place.
Tyler Glasnow is scheduled to return Tuesday with a start against the Atlanta Braves, and the club is now weighing Ohtani for Sunday against the Detroit Tigers. According to Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic, starting that game and having Ohtani throw one inning is one possibility the Dodgers are considering. Multiple sources with knowledge of the club’s thinking said the plans are not finalized.
Ohtani has already taken a couple of important steps forward. He completed a bullpen session of around 45 pitches and emerged from it in good shape. Then, on Saturday, he faced Will Smith in live batting practice for the first time since facing hitters again, throwing 30 pitches over six trips to the plate.
He is expected to throw one more bullpen while the Dodgers are in Atlanta. From there, manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani could either have another bullpen session or pitch in a game as his next step.
The club still has not locked in which route he will take, but the direction seems to be pointing toward a start on Sunday.
“I think it’s more of how the ‘pen goes, and also more so, to be quite honest, how Shohei feels,” Roberts said. “If he feels like he can take on a game and throw an inning, great, and how it lines up, versus, I might need to see some more hitters.”
Roberts also sounded encouraged after Ohtani’s live batting practice session, saying the right-hander appears ready to get back into game action sooner rather than later.
“I think if it were up to Shohei, he’d be in a game in a few days,” Roberts said.
Ohtani last started on the mound July 3 against the San Diego Padres before being pulled from the rotation to deal with a knee issue. In 85.2 innings this season, the 32-year-old has posted a 1.79 ERA.
Once Glasnow returns, the Dodgers plan to keep the rest of the rotation lined up behind him. Roki Sasaki is slated to pitch Wednesday, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto set for Thursday in the series finale against the Braves.
Then the schedule turns to the Tigers, with Tarik Skubal lined up to open that series on Friday against his former club and Blake Snell set to follow on Saturday. Sunday is currently without a starter, which would fit Ohtani if the Dodgers decide to use him there. Eric Lauer could also be an option if the team chooses to wait on the two-way star, though Roberts said it remains unclear whether Lauer will make another start.
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