Dodgers’ Dave Roberts still undecided on Shohei Ohtani’s next start

Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound remains up in the air. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said it is still undecided whether the two-way superstar will start Sunday’s series finale against the Detroit Tigers, keeping Los Angeles and the rest of the baseball world waiting a little longer.

Ohtani threw a 20-pitch bullpen session ahead of the Dodgers’ game, another step in a careful buildup toward his first pitching appearance since July 3. Roberts said the team will see how Ohtani responds before making a call on the Sunday outing.

The right-hander has been sidelined on the mound by left knee inflammation, though he has continued to rake as the Dodgers’ designated hitter throughout the layoff.

When Ohtani does return, the Dodgers plan to ease him in. He is expected to work as an opener for roughly one inning before handing off to Tyler Glasnow, who would follow as the bulk pitcher. That arrangement doubles as a preview of how Los Angeles could deploy the two in October, when the club will chase a third straight World Series title.

The stakes for the stretch run are clear. A Sunday return would line Ohtani up for about five starts before the end of the regular season, giving him a runway to build back toward a traditional starter’s workload by the playoffs. The Dodgers have been deliberately cautious, prioritizing his health over rushing him back, with the postseason as the real target for their two-way star.

Even without pitching, Ohtani has remained one of the sport’s most productive players. He is hitting .288 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs while anchoring the middle of the Los Angeles lineup, keeping himself in the National League MVP conversation alongside Pete Crow-Armstrong. On the mound earlier this season, he posted a 1.79 ERA across 14 starts before the knee issue interrupted his year.

For now, the answer is the same one the Dodgers have been giving for weeks. Ohtani is close, the pieces are lining up, and the decision comes down to how his body responds. Roberts and the Dodgers will take one more look before telling everyone whether Sunday is the day.

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