Shohei Ohtani Feeling Better; Dodgers Expect Him Back in Lineup Sunday

Shohei Ohtani was feeling much better Saturday after leaving his previous start with right biceps discomfort, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Los Angeles expects its two-way star to return to the starting lineup Sunday if his recovery continues as anticipated.

“If things trend the way we would expect, then he’ll be in there tomorrow,” Roberts said.

Ohtani was held out of the Dodgers’ July 4 lineup as planned, a precaution one day after he exited a July 3 start against the San Diego Padres. In that outing, Ohtani struck out nine over six innings, threw a season-high 110 pitches and helped lead Los Angeles to a 4-3 win. He said the discomfort flared up after the 110-pitch workload and that he only felt it during his final at-bat.

The Dodgers’ immediate focus was on how Ohtani responded to treatment and light activity. Roberts said Ohtani arrived Saturday feeling “considerably better,” and added that he could be available to pinch-hit later in the game if needed in a big spot. The club also planned to have Ohtani resume playing catch Sunday, with his throwing progression set to guide any decision on when he pitches next.

That next pitching decision is not considered urgent. Roberts said the Dodgers do not need to make an immediate call on Ohtani’s next start, giving the club room to monitor him day by day. MLB’s Dodgers injuries page listed the issue as “right biceps tightness” and gave an expected return of “Possibly July 5.”

The cautious approach could affect Ohtani’s final scheduled pitching appearance before the All-Star break. The Dodgers have indicated that outing could be skipped, which would also make him unlikely to pitch in the All-Star Game if that happens.

Even a brief interruption carries added significance because Ohtani fills two roles for Los Angeles. Through early July, he was 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings as a pitcher while batting .288 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs. The Dodgers have also been measured with his workload as he continues pitching after a 2023 Tommy John revision and returning from left shoulder labrum surgery following the 2024 World Series.

Ohtani said, through interpreter Will Ireton, that the discomfort was in a familiar spot and did not immediately keep him from finishing the game.

“It’s the same location that I felt a couple months ago,” Ohtani said. “It went away pretty relatively quickly (last time), so I expect that to happen again. ... On the swing, I did feel it, but I was able to play through it.”