After returning to the lineup on Saturday after missing a game and part of another with knee inflammation, Shohei Ohtani has one last hurdle to overcome to fully return to 100 percent for the Los Angeles Dodgers: taking the mound for his next start on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Discussing what he saw on Tuesday during Ohtani’s bullpen session, Dave Roberts told reporters that his star player “feels good” and is eager to keep progressing along, as reported by California Press’ Jack Harris.
“Shohei Ohtani is about to throw a bullpen session,” Harris wrote. “A final check for his knee before his scheduled start tomorrow Dave Roberts said they’ll see how he comes out of it, but ‘feels good’ that Ohtani will be good to go on the mound tomorrow afternoon. TBD if he’ll play both ways.”
Extrapolating on whether or not Ohtani will play both ways on Wednesday, Roberts noted that he would keep a close eye on his DH before, during, and after Tuesday’s outing and make the decision he thinks is right.
“Yeah, I don’t know,” Roberts noted. “I think today, just kind of seeing how he comes out of today, you know, I think the more information is better, and information as in how he’s feeling. So, yeah, seeing today, seeing tonight, and then I can make a decision for tomorrow.”
While only time will tell if Ohtani ends up playing both ways on Wednesday, with how his bat is producing over the last few weeks, it’s hard to argue that any other player is a better option at the position if he’s healthy enough to play.
"I just kind of see Tommy at second, at third, in left; it's sort of a case-by-case."
Dave Roberts addresses the media ahead of tonight's matchup with the Rays. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/b7kJ3Z7fN9
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) June 17, 2026
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