LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani’s return to the pitching mound is now just a homestand away with one more hurdle left to cross before the two-way star is back in the starting rotation.
Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani will throw one more bullpen session, likely during the team’s upcoming three-game series at Atlanta. Ohtani has not made a start since July 3 because of left knee discomfort but has remained in the lineup as the designated hitter.
By the time the Dodgers return for a nine-game homestand to open September against the St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds, Ohtani should be ready to begin his slow buildup from the mound.
Roberts did caution that one more simulated outing could be ahead after the bullpen, but because it would be left up to Ohtani’s discretion, a short start in an actual game is more likely.
“If he feels like he can take on a game and throw an inning, great,” Roberts said. “It’s how it lines up versus he might need to see some more hitters.”
Because Ohtani is a key component to the offense as the leadoff hitter, a minor league rehab assignment to build up as a pitcher is not possible. So the Dodgers will follow the template they created last season to get Ohtani up to speed.
Ohtani is expected to pitch one inning in a game immediately upon his return. If all goes, well he will progressively add an inning in successive starts. It gives him a month to build up before the playoffs begin.
If the Dodgers are not among the two best teams in the National League by record when the regular season ends, they will have to participate in the wild-card round which starts Sept. 29. They won last year’s title by starting their playoff run in the wild-card round.
If the Dodgers finish among the top two teams in the NL, a spot which they hold now, they will start their playoff run Oct. 3 in the National League Division Series.
“Obviously we got (Tyler Glasnow) coming back Tuesday. We have (Eric) Lauer with length,” Roberts said. “So to then have the opportunity, the flexibility to insert Shohei to build up like he did last year. Having guys like Lauer behind him makes it that much of a softer landing for Shohei.”
After a second major elbow surgery in 2023, Ohtani returned to the mound in June of last season with single innings against the San Diego Padres and Washington Nationals. He went two innings in two starts then three innings in three consecutive starts.
Ohtani finally reached five innings in an Aug. 27 start against the Cincinnati Reds, which was his 11th outing from the mound.
In order to reach five innings by the time the playoffs arrive, Ohtani will have to be on a much more aggressive September schedule. But that is the team’s ideal scenario.
“In theory, yeah,” Roberts said when asked if Ohtani will be at five innings by October.
RIGHT ANGLES
Closer Edwin Diaz revealed progress on two fronts saying the neck inflammation that has him on the injured list has subsided and that work on his pitching mechanics has already shown positive results.
Diaz’s first season with the Dodgers, after signing a three-year, $69-million deal, has been a struggle with an 11.85 ERA in 16 appearances with four blown saves.
“I’ve been working with the pitching coaches just to get my arm slow a little bit higher,” Diaz said. “They showed me a couple of videos from the previous year, and my arm angle is a little bit low. We are working now to get it higher and be more consistent in that position.”
Early work has delivered a fastball with better run and an improved slider.
“We got a lot of season left,” Diaz said. “We are a playoff team, so my goal is to be ready and help this team in the playoffs. I’m working on that. I know I will be back, so I’m really positive.”
A WILL AND A WAY
Catcher Will Smith, who has been out since early June because of neck inflammation, will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
With Dalton Rushing (elbow) also out, the Dodgers have turned to Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia at catcher. Both were reacquired at the trade deadline.
Smith will be looked on as a key component to providing consistency for an offense that has been wildly inconsistent since the All-Star break.
“It’s huge,” Roberts said of Smith’s offensive production. “I mean, I think he’s really hand agnostic. But just his at-bat quality, (his work) behind the plate, just getting him in the lineup (will help). … You lose a right-handed bat like Andy (Pages), to have Will back in there certainly raises our floor.”
Smith was batting .249 with six home runs and 23 RBIs before the neck injury that ended his run of three consecutive All-Star Game appearances.
ALSO
Roberts confirmed that Pages had a surgical procedure on his left hand, which sustained a fracture when he was hit by a pitch from Pirates right-hander Bubba Chandler on Friday. The procedure does not alter Pages’ timetable for a return, which was set at four to five weeks.
UP NEXT
After an off day Monday, it will be Dodgers (RHP Tyler Glasnow, 3-0, 2.72 ERA) at Braves (RHP Bryce Elder, 8-7, 3.92), Tuesday, 4:15 p.m. PST, SportsNet LA, 570 AM, 1020 AM