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Dodgers Halt Shohei Ohtani's Planned Pitching Return

Shelved after Friday's abbreviated 20-pitch bullpen left him 'not 100%,' the Dodgers will reassess Ohtani's pitching availability in Los Angeles.

Overview

  • The Dodgers announced Saturday that Ohtani will not start the series finale on Sunday in Detroit after coming out of a shortened bullpen session feeling 'not 100 percent.'
  • Ohtani threw about 20 pitches in the Aug. 28 bullpen, which is below his usual pre-start routine and prompted the club to pause the one-inning opener plan.
  • Tyler Glasnow will take the mound in Ohtani's place on Sunday, a move the team had prepared for since Glasnow was slated to handle bulk work whether Ohtani opened or not.
  • Los Angeles is prioritizing Ohtani's value as an everyday designated hitter and is reluctant to risk his bat by forcing a mound return that could aggravate left-knee or right-biceps soreness.
  • With limited time to build meaningful innings before the postseason and a deep rotation already returning to health, the Dodgers say they will decide in Los Angeles whether Ohtani will pitch again this season.