Dodgers manager says Ohtani not yet ready to pitch

Shohei Ohtani is unlikely to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, manager Dave Roberts said after the two-way star reported he still did not feel fully recovered following a bullpen session on Friday. Roberts explained that the team is assessing whether Ohtani’s overall condition justifies giving him an inning to build up his arm.

He noted that Ohtani’s left-knee and right-biceps injuries have not completely healed and that the club will proceed cautiously.

"His value offensively is hugely important. So if throwing potentially cuts into that, that’s not worth the squeeze," Roberts said.

If Ohtani does not start Sunday, the Dodgers plan to use Tyler Glasnow instead, and Roberts indicated that a pitching debut later in the week is also unlikely. Even if Ohtani were to appear, it would be limited to a single inning, and extending his workload to five innings by season’s end would be considered aggressive.

The uncertainty surrounding Ohtani’s return reduces the time he has to accumulate innings before the postseason, a factor the team must balance against his health and the Dodgers’ roster needs.