Shohei Ohtani walks up to the plate almost every night, swings like his usual self, and keeps stacking MVP numbers. But on the mound? That part of his season is stuck in neutral. And now, nearly a month since his last outing, the Dodgers still don’t have a clear answer for when he’ll pitch again.
Manager Dave Roberts gave the latest before Tuesday’s game against Seattle. Via Jack Harris of the California Post, Roberts said there’s still no timetable for Ohtani to throw another bullpen session. That’s the kind of vagueness that makes you wonder if the two-way experiment is running out of runway this year.
Here’s the thing. Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 16. That’s almost four weeks. Roberts admitted that at this point, Ohtani would essentially have to start the buildup process from scratch — bullpens, simulated innings, the whole routine — before he can even think about making full-length starts again. That’s not a small hurdle. It’s more like rebuilding the engine while the car is still on the highway.
The Dodgers aren’t sending him on a rehab assignment either. That’s because he’s still hitting in the lineup as the DH, and he’s been good enough that you don’t want to pull that bat out. So they’re stuck trying to stretch him out behind the scenes, using practice reps instead of live games. That’s a slower, less reliable path.
LA would obviously love to have him on the mound for a playoff push. But the team hasn’t confirmed any real timeline. And the longer this drags, the more you have to wonder if they just let him focus on hitting and save the arm for next season.
Still an MVP lock
None of this pitching uncertainty changes the fact that Ohtani is having another monster year at the plate. Through 97 games, he’s hitting .282 with a .387 on-base percentage and a .520 slugging percentage. Those numbers alone would put him in the conversation. Add in his .388 OBP and 17 home runs? It’s hard to argue anyone else deserves it more.
On the mound, he’s been just as nasty when healthy. A 1.79 ERA across 14 starts. Ninety-five strikeouts. The stuff is still elite. He probably won’t pile up enough innings to win the Cy Young, but the performance itself is undeniable.
So here’s where it stands. Ohtani is playing every day. He’s crushing the ball. But the pitching side of his game is basically in a holding pattern, waiting for some clarity that doesn’t seem to be coming anytime soon. The Dodgers host the Mariners tonight at 10:10 PM ET, and Ohtani will be in the lineup. Just not on the mound.
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