Dodgers Interview: Team Taking Measured Approach as Shohei Makes Second Start on the Mound
LOS ANGELES — When Shohei Ohtani takes the mound on Sunday for his second pitching appearance with the Dodgers, it won’t just be another box office attraction—it’ll be another carefully monitored step in a much bigger process. Manager Dave Roberts made that clear in his pregame comments, framing the outing as a day of progress rather than spectacle.
“This one should feel a lot more normal,” Roberts said, reflecting on the anticipation and adrenaline that accompanied Ohtani’s first start earlier this month. “The first one, we were all watching closely, but today I think it’ll be more about building rhythm. I’m excited to see him throw the baseball.”
Roberts said the Dodgers aren’t setting any firm inning limits publicly, but expectations are modest. “Not sure if it’ll be one or two innings,” he said. “But it’s going to be a fun day.”
That “fun” will still be managed with caution. While there may come a time when Ohtani’s workload expands, Roberts emphasized that, for now, the team is sticking to a “hard and fast” plan until a stable foundation is in place.
As for Ohtani’s spot in the batting order on days he pitches, that too is under ongoing evaluation. The two-way star will once again hit leadoff on Sunday, a role he has insisted he’s comfortable with.
“I asked him before his last start if he wanted to hit somewhere else in the lineup, and he said no—he’s good leading off,” Roberts said. “We might revisit that in the future, but for now we’re staying with the status quo.”
Ohtani’s recent offensive struggles—he’s been chasing more pitches out of the zone over the last week—don’t appear to be fatigue-related, according to Roberts. “I haven’t seen any signs of fatigue. He’s still moving well, swing speed’s in line,” he said. “With hitters, when you start expanding the zone, it’s hard to have success. But I don’t think that’s about being tired.”
Behind the scenes, the team is keeping a close watch on everything from Ohtani’s underlying swing metrics to how he reacts emotionally on the mound. Roberts noted that Ohtani is “a perfectionist” and can be harder on himself as a pitcher. But from the outside, his demeanor hasn’t changed much.
“He’d be a good poker player,” Roberts joked. “You’d never know.”
The timing of Ohtani’s second start was also strategic. With an off day Monday, and recent starts from Dustin May and Emmet Sheehan, Sunday offered a natural opportunity to ease Ohtani back into action without disrupting the broader pitching plan. “It just made the most sense,” Roberts said.
Roberts declined to predict how long it would take for Ohtani to reach a traditional starter’s workload. “I don’t even know what fully built-up looks like for him,” he admitted. “We’re being cautious. He’s not a typical starting pitcher. I don’t know if we’ll ever get to six innings and 90 pitches.”
So far, Ohtani’s return to the mound has been as methodical as it is historic. And as he prepares to take the ball again in front of the Dodger Stadium faithful, the Dodgers aren’t rushing anything. They know exactly what they’ve got—and they’re playing the long game.
“Watching him throw 100 mph and hit balls 470 feet—it’s remarkable,” Roberts said. “Sometimes you just have to step back and marvel at it.”
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