The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit a rough patch lately, but there’s no real reason to panic about this team’s talent level.
Getting back to full strength would certainly help quiet any concerns heading into October. The biggest question mark for the Dodgers right now is when – or if – Shohei Ohtani will return to the mound this season.
Manager Dave Roberts shared some encouraging news on that front.
Josh Peter of USA Today reports that Roberts revealed Ohtani is trending in the right direction with his recovery.
“He’s playing catch, potentially going to throw a bullpen soon,” Roberts told reporters ahead of the Milwaukee series in mid-August.
It’s clear Ohtani is taking the necessary steps to get back on the mound as the season progresses. The way I see it, that’s exactly what you want to hear at this point.
The Dodgers aren’t going to rush their two-way superstar back, especially now that they’ve got Tarik Skubal and Blake Snell anchoring the rotation. Add in Tyler Glasnow’s looming return, and there’s little reason to push Ohtani’s timeline.
But getting him back and pitching as soon as possible would be huge for this team.
Fortunately, that return date might not be too far off.
A Different Kind of Return
Ohtani’s return won’t look like most pitchers coming back from injury. The Dodgers need his bat in the lineup every day, and they can’t exactly send him to Triple-A for a rehab assignment.
Instead, he might get a two-inning start here or there, which would work perfectly with their rotation depth. Ohtani could go two innings to start a game, then someone like Eric Lauer could come in and handle bulk innings behind him.
That’s where the Dodgers’ deep pitching staff becomes a real advantage. They can be creative with how they bring Ohtani back without compromising thier playoff positioning.
All things considered, he first needs to actually be cleared to pitch again. While he’s not there yet, Ohtani seems to be getting close to being good to go. From where I’m sitting, that’s exactly the kind of news Dodgers fans want to hear heading into the stretch run.
