The Dodgers’ offense has kept them afloat despite a pitching staff in shambles, but don’t expect Shohei Ohtani to rush back to the mound anytime soon.
Los Angeles ranks in the bottom third of MLB with a 4.16 ERA as injuries have decimated their rotation. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are among the key arms sidelined, forcing the team to lean heavily on their bats. Fortunately, the Dodgers’ offense has responded by scoring the second-most runs in baseball.
Ohtani, the team’s $700 million superstar, has been the engine driving that offensive success. While he’s making progress toward an eventual return to pitching, the Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernández reports the team is taking an extremely cautious approach.
“As encouraged as the team is with his progress and as desperate as the Dodgers are for one of their sidelined frontline starters to return, they will continue to slow play Ohtani’s return to the mound,” Hernández wrote, citing a person familiar with the team’s thinking.
“The Dodgers could use Ohtani’s arm, but they absolutely need his bat, and they don’t plan on jeopardizing his offense by exposing him to any unnecessary risks on the mound. This isn’t to say Ohtani’s pitching comeback should be expedited. Whomever they have pitching, the Dodgers will have to score runs to win another World Series, and that starts with Ohtani. Before they unleash Ohtani the pitcher, they have to protect Ohtani the hitter.”
It’s a sensible approach. Ohtani hasn’t pitched since August 2023 when he underwent right elbow surgery. Even without throwing a single pitch in 2024, he still captured the National League MVP award. That’s the kind of bat the Dodgers can’t afford to risk.
This season, Ohtani’s been even more dominant at the plate. He’s slashing .304/.398/1.053 with 17 home runs and 31 RBIs through just 48 games. He’s added nine doubles and four triples for good measure.
The way things are going, the Dodgers seem content to let their offense carry them while bringing Ohtani along gradually as a pitcher. With the team currently sitting atop the NL West standings, there’s no need to rush what could be a game-changing addition to their rotation later this season.
