Why Dodgers manager Dave Roberts won’t say Shohei Ohtani’s pitching return is ‘dead’

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is not formally ruling out Shohei Ohtani pitching again in 2026, even with the club pausing his throwing program and only 19 regular-season games left. Ohtani is set to return to the lineup on Monday as the leadoff designated hitter after missing four straight games, but his work on the mound remains on hold.

SportsNet LA posted a clip Monday on X, formerly Twitter, of Roberts addressing Ohtani’s status before the Dodgers opened a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.

“We have no timetable for when he’s (Ohtani) gonna pick up a baseball. I’m choosing not to say it’s dead.”

"We have no timetable for when he's (Ohtani) gonna pick up a baseball. I'm choosing not to say it's dead."

Dave Roberts addresses the media before tonight's matchup with the Reds. Get closer to the action with SNLA+, with the MLB app. #Dodgers
: https://t.co/WdghkxqEXh pic.twitter.com/bZJMkvfcYF

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) September 7, 2026

Ohtani last pitched July 3 vs. the San Diego Padres, allowing three earned runs over six innings with nine strikeouts. He held an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings across 14 starts when he left the rotation.

The 32-year-old has not thrown since a shortened bullpen session of roughly 20 pitches August 28 in Detroit. Left-knee inflammation has been the primary issue behind his rotation absence, while right-biceps soreness and neck discomfort also surfaced. The Dodgers restarted his throwing program in early August before putting that work on hold.

Roberts had already said Sunday that the Dodgers had not formally shut Ohtani down as a pitcher, though the calendar and his limited recent throwing made a return increasingly unlikely. Roberts also downplayed the possibility of using Ohtani for even one inning as an opener in October.

The two-way phenom heads into Monday’s action batting .279 with 30 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .906 OPS in 129 games. The Dodgers entered the Reds series 86-57 and first in the NL West.

For now, Ohtani remains available as a hitter, while the Dodgers have set no timetable for him to resume throwing or return to the mound.

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