Ohtani Returns to the Mound: Dodgers Ready for Action
Los Angeles is preparing to welcome the Minnesota Twins at Dodger Stadium this Monday, marking Shohei Ohtani’s return as a pitcher for the Dodgers. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that the star Japanese player will make his first start of the second half of the season. The meeting is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. (Pacific Time). It will be a new opportunity for Ohtani to continue his gradual process of reintegration into the starting rotation, after having made five limited starts before the All-Star break. In those five starts, Ohtani pitched a total of nine innings, allowing only one run and five hits, with 10 strikeouts and just two walks. This demonstrates that his arm remains a serious threat despite his recent return to the mound. Roberts has indicated that the plan is for Ohtani to work three innings this Monday, with the intention of increasing his workload to four innings in his next presentation. If everything goes as planned, the Japanese player could be making longer starts in mid-August.Right-hander Dustin May will be the one to relieve Ohtani in this game. Roberts clarified that this rotation will not be permanent. May, who has pitched 94.1 innings this season with an ERA of 4.96, will also be carefully monitored in the second half. On the offensive side, Ohtani continues to excel. He led the National League with 32 home runs and recorded an OPS of .987 before the break, solidifying himself as one of the most impactful figures in Major League Baseball. The progressive return of Ohtani to the starting pitcher role, added to his outstanding offensive production, makes the Japanese phenomenon a lethal weapon for the Dodgers heading into the final stretch of the season. Fans have many reasons to be excited.We are organizing everything around Shohei as he continues to increase his workload.
Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager
