Dodgers expect Shohei Ohtani to throw off mound this week

The Dodgers expected Shohei Ohtani to throw off a mound later this week, a sign his pitching program was moving forward even as his left knee remained under close watch. There is still no timetable for his return to the rotation, keeping the next step in his comeback squarely in checkpoint territory.

The buildup to that session has been shaped by the knee issue that pushed back his schedule. Ohtani was expected to skip the July 14 All-Star Game, he had fluid drained from his left knee to relieve irritation, and the Dodgers had already scratched him from a planned start because the problem lingered. Earlier AP-linked coverage said he would not pitch for “some time” because of left knee irritation. The Los Angeles Times reported July 17 that the Dodgers expected him to pitch the next week while they managed the ailment, then said on July 19 that his return to pitching remained unclear.

That caution matters because Ohtani is not simply working back as a hitter. MLB had already outlined the scale of his pitching re-entry: his regular-season mound debut was scheduled for a Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium against the Guardians, with first pitch at 7:10 p.m. PT and 10:10 p.m. ET. In spring, Ohtani topped out at 99.9 mph, threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, struck out four and needed 61 pitches. MLB also noted that when Ohtani pitches, he has only two minutes to switch equipment and mentality between innings, a detail that underscores how unusual his workload remains.

The Dodgers’ handling of Ohtani reflects the balance they must strike between star power and medical caution. A mound session would signal progress in his return as a two-way player, but it would not by itself clear him for a full return to the rotation. The team’s priority has been to preserve his long-term effectiveness while keeping his bat in the lineup and his arm available when the knee allows.

For Los Angeles, the timing affects more than one roster spot. Ohtani’s pitching status influences rotation depth, bullpen usage and how aggressively the Dodgers manage the rest of their arms over the stretch run. With no timetable for his return to the rotation, the upcoming mound work is the latest step in a carefully managed path, not the end of it.