Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani last pitched on July 3 against the San Diego Padres, but his return could be coming very soon.
Ohtani has been battling left-knee soreness, which has kept him away from pitching, but Dave Roberts said there is a “possibility” that he pitches on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers on the road.
Shohei Ohtani starting on the mound Sunday in Detroit is a "possibility," Dave Roberts told reporters.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) August 26, 2026
The Dodgers' pitching plans for the weekend hinge on Ohtani's work today, which will be either a bullpen session or facing live hitters in Atlanta.@MLBNetwork
Roberts mentioned previously that the plan might change for Ohtani going forward. Instead of using him as a traditional starter, they might utilize him as a multi-inning opener and see him pitch in shorter bursts instead.
Ohtani threw pitches to injured Dodgers catcher Will Smith, but Roberts had hoped that the Japanese star could face live hitters before making his return to the mound in a game.
This season, Shohei Ohtani has an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts, and he was dominant before being sidelined from the mound due to soreness.
Despite that, Ohtani has still been in the lineup, and he is hitting .287 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs as he is right in the middle of the National League MVP conversation.
