Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way phenom, is officially on the verge of returning to the mound, with manager Dave Roberts eyeing a comeback as early as next week. After sitting out since July 3 with persistent knee inflammation and then a biceps issue, his return as a pitcher could totally flip the National League MVP race on its head and seriously boost the Dodgers’ World Series hopes. Ohtani has been a designated hitter all this time, keeping his bat hot at the top of their lineup, but getting him back on the rubber is the real game-changer.
The Return of the Two-Way King
Roberts dropped an encouraging update on Sunday, confirming that Ohtani will throw another bullpen session during the Dodgers’ upcoming series against the Braves in Atlanta, which kicks off on Tuesday. That’s the big step! After that, the club is set to decide whether his next move is facing live hitters or jumping right back into game action. Talk about high stakes. The Dodgers are not messing around, either; Roberts specifically said Ohtani’s buildup will be “more aggressive” than last year. They’re not just looking for an opener in the postseason; they want him looking like a regular starting pitcher when it matters most. This is the kind of aggressive move that signals they mean business and are gunning for that third straight World Series title.
MVP Race Heats Up With Pitching Dominance on the Line
Before those nagging injuries got in the way, Ohtani was absolutely dealing on the mound, looking like a legitimate Cy Young candidate. His pitching stats were ridiculous: a 1.79 ERA, a .95 WHIP, 85.2 innings pitched, 26 walks, and 95 strikeouts. Those are ace numbers, plain and simple. Offensively, he’s still crushing it, putting up another monster season with a .289 batting average, 84 runs scored, 30 home runs, 80 RBI, and 8 stolen bases. That’s good for an NL-leading 159 OPS+. But even with all that, he’s currently trailing Pete Crow-Armstrong in WAR, 7.9 to 6.9, with Crow-Armstrong (-170 odds) being the MVP favorite as September approaches thanks to his power, speed, and elite defense. If Ohtani can dial up some vintage pitching performances down the stretch, that MVP race is going to get wild.
The Dodgers are sitting pretty with a healthy 79-51 lead in the NL West. But they’re not content with just that. They’ve got their eyes on catching the Brewers for the best overall record in the NL and securing home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Getting Ohtani back as a two-way threat is precisely what they need to make that happen. Keep your eyes peeled for Tuesday’s bullpen session; it’s the next big step in this epic comeback story!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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