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LOS ANGELES โ Shohei Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night against the San Diego Padres, 21 months after the two-way star had elbow surgery.
The Dodgers made the announcement after Sunday nightโs 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. Ohtani likely will be used as an opener as the NL West leaders kick off a four-game set against the visiting Padres.
โShohei is getting antsy, which is a good thing for us,โ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the team announced Ohtani would get the ball Monday night.
โI donโt know if itโs going to be one or two innings, but my guess is probably an inning to start. But itโs a good thing. The live, simulated or whatever sort of ran its course. Heโs ready to make his debut on the mound.โ
Ohtani hasnโt pitched in a game since Aug. 23, 2023, when he got hurt during a start for the Los Angeles Angels against the Cincinnati Reds. He had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, and is recovering from right elbow surgery on Sept. 19, 2023.
In the second season of a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers, he paused his pitching work after a mound session Feb. 25 to prepare for opening day as a hitter, then started bullpen sessions March 29 and batting practice May 25.
Roberts said he is excited to see Ohtani pitch in a big-league game again.
โThereโs been a lot of anticipation,โ he said. โI think weโve done it the right way as far as our process, communicating with Shohei and feeling good. โฆ Itโs good for our team. Our guys are excited about this potential. And obviously, most important, Iโm excited for Shohei.โ
A three-time MVP, Ohtani is hitting .297 with an NL-leading 1.035 OPS, 25 homers and 41 RBIs. A batter only last year in his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani hit .290 with 54 homers, 130 RBIs and 59 stolen bases.
On Sunday, Roberts said rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki appears likely to be sidelined for a lengthy stretch. With Sasaki (right shoulder impingement), Blake Snell (left shoulder inflammation) and Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder inflammation) on the injured list, the Dodgers have resorted to bullpen games.
Sasaki hasnโt pitched in a game since May 9 and isnโt part of the teamโs long-term pitching plans this season.
โI think thatโs what the mindset should be,โ Roberts said before the game. โBeing thrust into this environment certainly was a big undertaking for him, and now you layer in the health part and the fact heโs a starting pitcher, knowing what the build-up (required to return) entails โฆ I think thatโs the prudent way to go about it.โ
Sasaki, 23, went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts after joining the Dodgers from the Pacific Leagueโs Chiba Lotte Marines, averaging less than 4 1/3 innings per start. He walked 22 and struck out 24 in 34 1/3 innings and his fastball averaged 95.7 mph, down 3-4 mph from his average in Japan.
Roberts said Sasaki was pain-free when he resumed throwing in early June, but the pitcher was shut down after feeling discomfort this past week. Sasaki recently received a cortisone injection in the shoulder. Roberts said no further scans are planned.
โI donโt think itโs pain,โ Roberts said. โI donโt know if itโs discomfort, if itโs tightness, if heโs just not feeling strong, whatever the adjective you want to use. Thatโs more of a question for Roki, as far as the sensation heโs feeling.
โHeโs just not feeling like he can ramp it up, and weโre not going to push him to do something he doesnโt feel good about right now.โ
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