Shohei Ohtani’s much-anticipated return to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers is looking shakier than ever. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts dropped a bomb prior to Saturday’s game against the Detroit Tigers, telling reporters that Ohtani’s knee and his right bicep are “not 100 percent.” This comes after Friday’s bullpen session was cut short, leaving his planned Sunday start in serious doubt.
The Shortened Session and the Sunday Question Mark
What went down on Friday definitely wasn’t normal. Ohtani only threw 20 pitches in his bullpen session, a noticeable dip from the minimum of 30 he usually likes to get in before a start. Roberts wasn’t there to watch it live, so he couldn’t give an immediate update afterward. He said he plans to talk directly with Ohtani and pitching coach Mark Prior to figure out the next steps. The big question looming over the Dodgers now is whether Ohtani will actually make his scheduled start on Sunday, which was supposed to be a one-inning appearance in the series finale against Detroit.
Deep Dive Into the Injury and What It Means for the Postseason
This isn’t just some minor stiffness. Ohtani hasn’t pitched since way back on July 3, initially sidelined with knee soreness. It was later revealed that he was also battling discomfort in his right biceps, which apparently stemmed from him overcompensating with his upper body to deal with that knee issue. Before this latest setback, things were looking up! He had actually faced live hitters on August 22, a huge step, and the Dodgers were feeling good about him starting on Sunday. The plan was for Tyler Glasnow, who just came back from a three-month absence on Tuesday, to follow Ohtani on Sunday. Now, if Ohtani can’t go, it’ll be Glasnow getting the start instead.
Roberts has publicly stated he’s confident Ohtani will get back on the mound during the regular season, specifically to prep him for the postseason. This potential Ohtani-Glasnow combo could be a glimpse into how the Dodgers plan to use them in the playoffs, especially since Ohtani likely won’t be built up enough for a full pitching workload if he does return. Remember, Ohtani made four pitching appearances in last year’s playoffs, even starting Game 7 of the World Series. He was absolutely having a Cy Young-caliber season before these injuries hit, rocking a 1.79 ERA with 95 strikeouts over 85.2 innings in 14 starts. What a bummer.
So, we’re all waiting on pins and needles to see what Ohtani, Roberts, and Prior decide. The Dodgers are scheduled to wrap up their series against the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Will we see Ohtani on the mound, even for an inning, or will Glasnow step in? Everyone’s hoping for good news, and a smooth path back for one of the game’s best.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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