Shohei Ohtani might actually pitch this weekend for the Dodgers in Detroit, marking his first time on the mound since way back on July 3. This is a massive turn for LA, especially with their sights set on October and that deep roster finally getting healthy.
Dodgers’ Pitching Is Getting a Major Shot in the Arm
It’s been a minute, 111 days to be exact, since we saw Glasnow on the bump, but he’s finally back. He’s set to be activated off the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, a big relief for that starting rotation. But the real game-changer? That has to be Ohtani. The Dodgers are planning to go aggressive with his return to pitching, starting him with just an inning at a time this weekend. Manager Roberts made it crystal clear they’re aiming for postseason readiness, with Ohtani potentially building up to five-inning starts by October. Can you even imagine that kind of firepower? Roberts himself said, “To then have the opportunity, the flexibility to insert Shohei to build up like he did last year, I think, is of huge benefit both ways.” If he keeps his standard once-per-week schedule and gets a Sunday start, he could squeeze in four or five actual game starts before the regular season wraps on September 27. Plus, we’ll also see Eric Lauer in the mix this week, possibly following Glasnow on Tuesday and then Ohtani on Sunday against the Tigers. That’s a lot of fresh, high-impact arms.
Smith’s Crucial Return and Díaz’s New Bullpen Role
It’s not just the pitching staff getting healthier, thankfully. Catcher Will Smith is finally starting his minor league rehab assignment with Oklahoma City on Tuesday. The dude has been out for nearly four months with neck inflammation, having last caught way back on June 5. That’s a seriously long time away, but he’s been ramping up baseball activities, even facing Ohtani in a simulated game recently. Getting him back into game shape is absolutely crucial for the Dodgers’ lineup and defense. On the bullpen side, Edwin Díaz is also returning from neck inflammation, but he won’t be jumping straight back into the closer role. Díaz himself totally owned the situation, saying, “I’m good with the decision because I know I haven’t done my job. If I’d done my job, I’d be pitching in the ninth inning.” It means he’ll need to work his way back into those high-leverage situations, which is probably the smartest move for the team right now.
The Dodgers are clearly making big moves to shore things up. With Glasnow and potentially Ohtani back on the mound this week against Detroit, and Smith starting his road back, things are definitely looking up for them. It’s going to be wild to see Ohtani back pitching, even if it’s just for an inning. Can they get all these critical pieces firing on all cylinders in time?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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