Shohei Ohtani is expected to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup by Monday, but manager Dave Roberts confirmed the 2026 season is likely his last as a pitcher due to ongoing physical issues.
Shohei Ohtani’s 2026 campaign as a two-way player is effectively over, with manager Dave Roberts confirming the Dodgers will not risk his arm for the postseason. Ohtani, who has not pitched since July 3, is set to return to the lineup as a hitter by Monday after a four-game absence, but his time on the mound is nearly finished. If you’re looking at the calendar, how much he’s thrown in the last week, I think we can all do the math,
Roberts said, echoing the reality that Ohtani’s arm strength is unlikely to recover in time for playoff action.
Ohtani’s Pitching Shutdown Confirmed, Hitting Return Near
Ohtani’s absence from the mound dates back to August 28, when he cut short a bullpen session due to discomfort in his right knee and biceps. That setback derailed plans for him to pitch in the Tigers’ game that Sunday, which would have marked his first start since July 3. Since then, the Dodgers have prioritized his health as a hitter, with Roberts stating, I do think that the no throwing, I think, is beneficial.
Ohtani is expected to play Monday after a productive batting practice session on Saturday, though his return to pitching remains “unlikely.”
Dodgers’ Strategy: Prioritizing Hitting Over Pitching
The Dodgers’ focus on Ohtani’s hitting reflects their postseason plan, which includes a rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow. Roberts acknowledged that Ohtani’s absence as a pitcher is “a luxury” the team can afford, given the depth of their pitching staff. We were able to win the 2024 World Series without Ohtani pitching at all,
he said, highlighting the team’s confidence in their current setup.
Ohtani’s Health Woes Complicate Two-Way Ambitions
The challenges of a two-way workload have intensified as Ohtani ages. At 32, the physical demands of pitching and hitting have proven more taxing than in his 2023 season with the Angels, when he tore his UCL. This year, his ERA rose from 0.74 on June 3 to 1.79 by September 4, while his hitting declined. The stress of trying to rehab a moving target of an injury while simultaneously regularly playing as a DH was too much for even a player as unique as the two-way superstar.
With the postseason approaching, the Dodgers have shifted their focus to ensuring Ohtani is ready as a hitter. Roberts hinted that Ohtani’s return to the lineup could come with restrictions, saying, We’ll just kind of monitor day to day.
The question now is whether Ohtani can maintain his offensive production without the added strain of pitching. Until he’s written in the lineup, we don’t know 100 percent,
Roberts said, but the odds of him pitching again in 2026 remain slim.
