LOS ANGELES – 21 months after the two-way star underwent elbow surgery, he is set to become the Los Angeles Dodgers star pitcher on Monday night against San Diego.
The Dodgers announced Sunday night after a 5-4 victory over San Francisco. Otani will likely be used as the opener as the NL West Leader will start a four-game set against the Visiting Padres.
“Shohei is feeling uneasy, but this is good for us,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before the team announced Ohtani would get the ball Monday night.
“I don’t know if it’s one or two, but my guess is probably the innings to start. But that’s good. I’ve run the course live, simulated or whatever. He’s ready to make his debut on the mound.”
Otani has not played in the match since August 23, 2023 when he was injured during the Los Angeles Angels’ start against Cincinnati. He underwent surgery by Tommy John on October 1, 2018 and recovered from right elbow surgery on September 19, 2023.
In the second season of the $700 million 10-year contract, he paused pitching work by preparing for his opening day as a batter after the February 25th mound session, and began his bullpen session on March 29th and batting practice on May 25th.
Roberts said he was excited to see Otani pitch again in a major league match.
“There were a lot of expectations,” he said. “I think we communicated with our process, the shoe hei and did it the right way until we felt better. …It’s good for our team. Our people are excited by the possibility.
The three-inning MVP Ohtani hits .297 with 1.035 OPS, 25 Homer and 41 RBI, leading the NL. Last year’s batter in his first season with the Dodgers, Otani hit .290 with 54 Homer, 130 RBI and 59 stolen bases.
On Sunday, Roberts said rookie right-handed Kinosaki Samoto would likely be on the sidelines for the long stretches. The Dodgers relied on the bullpen game as Sasaki (right shoulder collision), Blake Snell (left shoulder inflammation) and Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder inflammation) were on the injured list.
Sasaki has not played in games since May 9th and is not part of the team’s long-term pitching plan this season.
“I think that’s the way of thinking,” Roberts said before the game. “It was certainly a big job for him to plunge into this environment, and now you know that you overlap with the health part and the fact that he is a starting pitcher and know what buildup entails… I think that’s a sensible way to keep up.”
Sasaki, 23, joined the Pacific League’s Cibalotte Marines Dodgers before 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA in eight starts, averaging less than 4 1/3 innings per start. He walked 22, hit 24 in 34 1/3 innings, and his fastball averaged 95.7 mph, 3-4 mph from his average in Japan.
Roberts said he was in pain when Sasaki resumed his throw in early June, but the pitcher was closed after feeling uncomfortable last week. Sasaki recently received a cortisone injection into her shoulder. Roberts said no further scans were planned.
“I don’t think it’s pain,” Roberts said. “Whether it’s uncomfortable, whether it’s tension, if he doesn’t feel strong, what adjective you want to use, it’s a question for Loki as far as the feeling he’s feeling.
“Not only does he feel he can ramp it up, we’re not going to push him to do things that he doesn’t feel good right now.”
