Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani hasn't pitched since early in July, but could return to the rotation by the end of the week. Per Jack Harris of the California Post, Ohtani will throw either a bullpen or a live batting practice session before Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves, and the hope is he'll be ready to return to game action afterwards—with Sunday's matchup against the Detroit Tigers being a possibility as his first game back. Ohtani's last start came July 3 against the San Diego Padres, as a knee issue took him off the mound shortly after.
He missed the All-Star Game after getting a lubricant injection in his knee, but he still hasn't returned to pitching. Ohtani also struggled with a minor biceps injury after the All-Star break, but the knee injury was the more important issue. He didn't partake in pitching activities for a month, but began playing catch and working his way towards a bullpen session at Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani hasn't pitched since early in July, but could return to the rotation by the end of the week. the beginning of August.
He has since thrown two bullpens in his road to recovery. Ohtani had been the Dodgers' most effective starting pitcher up until his injury, though he hadn't logged as many starts as the other starters in the rotation due to load management caused by his two-way duties. Through the right-hander's four starts this season, he has a 1.79 ERA through 85.2 innings pitched, striking out 95 batters in the process.
The Dodgers' rotation, as it stands, has five members, so Ohtani's return will restore the Dodgers' rotation to the six-man unit they prefer to have. Tyler Glasnow returned from the injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Braves, joining Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki in the rotation. Justin Wrobleski served in the Dodgers' rotation for a majority of the year but is currently injured, and Eric Lauer—who came in after Glasnow landed on the injured list—moved to the bullpen ahead of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
When Ohtani returns to the rotation, the Dodgers will indisputably have the best group of starters across all of MLB.
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