When is Shohei Ohtani pitching? Dodgers debut set vs. Padres Monday
Ohtani's return to the mound will be his first time pitching for the Dodgers since he signed with the team prior to the 2024 season. Ohtani last pitched for the Los Angeles Angels in August 2023, as he was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament. He had surgery that ended his 2023 season as he entered free agency. Ohtani signed with the Dodgers in December 2023, and spent the 2024 season as a designated hitter while he recovered from surgery.
Coming off his third MVP season as the first player to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in one season, Ohtani began throwing to live hitters in recent weeks. However, his timeline remained fluid and he was expected to return around the All-Star break.
Prior to Sunday's game against, Roberts said Ohtani would throw another simulated game in the coming week that was "potentially" be his last one before returning to the mound. Ultimately the team decided to move up the comeback.
Ohtani's return comes as the Los Angeles pitching staff has been decimated by injuries, primarily to their major stars. Starters Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell haven't pitched since April, rookie Roki Sasaki hasn't been on the mound since May and Tony Gonsolin went on the injured list earlier.
It also comes as the NL West has been a tight race. The Dodgers just won series against the Padres and San Francisco Giants, and at 43-29, are two games ahead of San Francisco and three games up on San Diego in the division.
The three-time MVP has a 3.01 ERA in 86 starts with a 38-19 record. His best pitching season came in 2022, when he went 15-9 with 2.33 ERA and a career-high 219 strikeouts. He finished fourth in Cy Young voting.
Shohei Ohtani pitching stats
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Aces' A'ja Wilson (concussion protocol) out again Tuesday
June 17 - The Las Vegas Aces will be without three-time WNBA Most Valuable Player A'ja Wilson when they face the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday in Minneapolis. Wilson remains in concussion protocol and is due to miss her third game in a row. The Los Angeles Sparks' Dearica Hamby collided with Wilson in the third quarter of Las Vegas' home loss on Wednesday. Wilson emerged from the play with a bloodied face, and she soon exited the contest for good as the Aces fell 97-89. Wilson subsequently was sidelined as Las Vegas split a pair of home games, an 88-84 win over the Dallas Wings on Friday and a 76-70 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday. Wilson, 28, is averaging 20.9 points per game, tied for third in the WNBA, and 9.6 rebounds per game, third in the league. The WNBA's MVP in 2020, 2022 and 2024, Wilson has career averages of 21.1 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 235 games (234 starts). She led the Aces to consecutive league championships in 2022 and 2023. The Aces (5-5) have lost three of their past four games as they prepare to oppose the Lynx (10-1). --Field Level Media
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
MLB roundup: Shohei Ohtani, after pitching, lifts Dodgers at plate
June 17 - Shohei Ohtani pitched an inning for the first time in nearly two years and drove in two runs out of the leadoff spot as the Los Angeles Dodgers earned a 6-3 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres on Monday. Ohtani, who is back to pitching after undergoing a second Tommy John procedure in 2023, started and gave up one run and two hits on 28 pitches in his lone inning of work, reaching 100.2 mph on a fastball. At the plate, he had an RBI double in the third inning and a run-scoring single in the fourth. Max Muncy had a two-run single and Will Smith collected two hits as the Dodgers won for the sixth time in eight games. Ben Casparius (5-1) got the win in relief, and Kirby Yates pitched a perfect ninth inning for his second save. Manny Machado hit a home run and had two RBIs for the Padres, who fell to 4-8 since June 4. Dylan Cease (2-6) yielded six runs on eight hits in five innings despite fanning nine. Angels 1, Yankees 0 (11 innings) Nolan Schanuel hit a tiebreaking broken-bat double with one out in the 11th inning and Los Angeles hung on for a victory over host New York. The Yankees had a chance to rally in the bottom half when Brock Burke loaded the bases, but Hunter Strickland retired Anthony Volpe on one pitch to end it. Schanuel's go-ahead RBI prevented the Angels from dropping a fourth straight game and gave them their first 1-0 win over the Yankees since Aug. 1, 2008, in New York. A's 3, Astros 1 Rookie Nick Kurtz walloped a two-run walk-off homer with no outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Athletics a victory over visiting Houston. JJ Bleday also homered for the Athletics, who have won a season-best four straight games after losing 24 of their previous 28 contests. Mason Miller (1-2) fanned two in a perfect top of the ninth. Jose Altuve went deep for the Astros, who had their season-best five-game winning streak end. Bryan Abreu (1-3) walked Brent Rooker before serving up Kurtz's homer. Red Sox 2, Mariners 0 Roman Anthony hit his first major league home run and Lucas Giolito pitched six scoreless innings as Boston beat host Seattle for its sixth consecutive victory. The Mariners had a three-game winning streak snapped. Giolito (3-1) allowed three hits, walked one and struck out a season-high 10 batters. Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his 13th save. Mariners starter Logan Gilbert (1-2), who had been out since April 25 with a right elbow flexor strain, went five innings and allowed two runs on three hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts. Rays 7, Orioles 1 Josh Lowe rapped his first career leadoff home run, Jake Mangum went 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, and Tampa Bay throttled visiting Baltimore. Brandon Lowe (two-run homer), Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero and Christopher Morel each had two of the Rays' 14 hits. Ryan Pepiot (4-6) tossed a career-high eight innings, allowed one run and fanned a season-high 11. Adley Rutschman's solo homer was one of the Orioles' four hits as Baltimore lost for the first time in four games. Zach Eflin (6-3) surrendered seven runs on a career-high 12 hits in five innings. Rockies 6, Nationals 4 Mickey Moniak's two-run home run capped a three-run ninth inning, and visiting Colorado rallied to send Washington to its ninth straight loss. Hunter Goodman led off the ninth with the Rockies trailing 4-3 and smacked his second homer of the night, a shot to center against closer Kyle Finnegan (0-2). With two outs and a runner on, Moniak homered to right, just beyond the reach of a leaping Daylen Lile. Moniak added a triple for the Rockies, who have won two straight. Victor Vodnik (2-2) pitched the eighth and Seth Halvorsen worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth for his fourth save. James Wood had a two-run home run and Lile added his first major league homer for the Nationals, who are 0-4 on their seven-game homestand. Phillies 5, Marlins 2 Trea Turner had three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs as Philadelphia defeated host Miami for its fifth straight win. Max Kepler also added a homer and Mick Abel (2-0) surrendered one run and three hits over five innings for the Phillies. Orion Kerkering pitched a perfect ninth inning to secure his first career save. Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara (3-8) allowed two runs on five hits over five innings. Xavier Edwards scored a run and was the sole Marlin to notch at least two hits. --Field Level Media
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani struggles in return to mound
June 17 - Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani wobbled through a 28-pitch first inning at home against the San Diego Padres on Monday in his first appearance on the mound since August 2023. Scheduled to throw as many as two innings, Ohtani went a single frame while allowing one run on two hits. He did not issue walk nor strike out a batter. "Not quite happy with the results overall," Ohtani said of his pitching performance, "but the takeaway for me is that I feel good enough to be able to make the next outing." Ohtani still wound up with a positive impact in the game. At the plate, he went 2-for-4 with an RBI double, an RBI single and a walk as the Dodgers prevailed 6-3. Ohtani was back on the mound after undergoing Tommy John revision surgery on Sept. 19, 2023. His first Tommy John surgery came after his rookie season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2018, and he did not pitch in the 2019 season. "Definitely a little bit more (nervous) than when I was solely a position player," Ohtani said. Following a series of live batting practice sessions before games, the Dodgers elected to use Ohtani as an opener with the hope of adding an inning every time he takes the mound. He is tentatively scheduled to pitch once a week moving forward. "That is my expectation," Ohtani said of the pitching plan. "But I did hit 100 (mph) today so first I want to see how my body feels and how it reacts. But the expectation is for me to go once a week and go a little longer every time I am out there so the bullpen won't be taxed." Ohtani's fastest pitch was 100.2 mph to Padres No. 2 hitter Luis Arraez. He threw three other fastballs at 99.1 mph. Padres leadoff hitter Fernando Tatis Jr. hit with a bloop single to right on a full count against Ohtani. After a wild pitch, Arraez put runners on the corners with a bloop single to center. Manny Machado followed with a sacrifice fly to center for a 1-0 lead. Ohtani escaped further damage by retiring Gavin Sheets and Xander Bogarets on ground balls. "I was aiming to sit 95, 96, but the game intensity really allowed me to throw a little harder and I was able to adjust back to be able to throw 95, 96 against Bogaerts in the last at-bat," Ohtani said. As the Dodgers' leadoff hitter, Ohtani struck out in the first inning before he was replaced on the mound by left-hander Anthony Banda. In 86 career pitching starts with the Angels from 2018-23, Ohtani went 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings. He was voted American League MVP in 2021 and 2023 for his hitting and pitching exploits, then won National League MVP last season with the Dodgers after he hit 54 home runs with 59 stolen bases. "I'm just really grateful, reflecting back on the support I received from the doctor who operated me, the support staff on the team and everybody who supported me along the way," Ohtani said. "So I am just grateful for, other than the results, for me to be able to go out there and be grateful for the moment I had today." --Field Level Media
