LOS ANGELES (AP) 鈥� Shohei Ohtani is going to be the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night against San Diego, 21 months after the two-way star had elbow surgery.
The Dodgers after over San Francisco. Ohtani likely will be used as an opener as the NL West leaders kick off a four-game set against the visiting Padres.
Ohtani has not pitched in a game since Aug. 23, 2023, when he got hurt during a start for the Los Angeles Angels against Cincinnati. He had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, and is recovering from .
In the second season of a $700 million, 10-year contract, he paused his pitching work after a mound session on Feb. 25 to prepare for opening day as a hitter, then started bullpen sessions on March 29 and batting practice on March 25.
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 has not pitched in a game since May 9 and is not part of the team鈥檚 long-term pitching plans this season.
鈥淚 think that鈥檚 what the mindset should be,鈥� Roberts said before the game. "Being thrust into this environment certainly was a big undertaking for him, and now you layer in the health part and the fact he鈥檚 a starting pitcher, knowing what the build-up (required to return) entails 鈥� I think that鈥檚 the prudent way to go about it.鈥�
Sasaki, 23, went 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts after joining the Dodgers from the Pacific League's Chiba Lotte Marines, ,averaging less than 4 1/3 innings per start. His 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.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 pain,鈥� Roberts said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if it鈥檚 discomfort, if it鈥檚 tightness, if he鈥檚 just not feeling strong, whatever the adjective you want to use. That鈥檚 more of a question for Roki, as far as the sensation he鈥檚 feeling.
鈥淗e鈥檚 just not feeling like he can ramp it up, and we鈥檙e not going to push him to do something he doesn鈥檛 feel good about right now.鈥�
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AP MLB:
Mike Digiovanna, The Associated Press
