Shohei Ohtani threw a 20-pitch bullpen session at Comerica Park on Friday — and stopped himself, without warning. Dave Roberts walked into the pregame press availability without having watched a single pitch, facing the same question everyone else had: is Ohtani starting Sunday or not? As of August 29, 2026, nobody has a firm answer.
What Happened in Detroit and Why It Matters
Friday’s bullpen was shorter than usual. Ohtani typically throws around 30 pitches before a start; this one clocked in at roughly 20. But the number isn’t the most important part — what stands out is that Ohtani himself decided to stop, not a team doctor or a coach.
Roberts was straightforward about it in his pregame availability: «It was short. I wasn’t there. I really don’t know what to think because I didn’t see it with my own eyes. Obviously I have to talk to Shohei, talk to Mark [Prior], and then we’ll make a decision for Sunday.» The quote, reported by Jack Harris, paints an unusual picture: the Dodgers manager will make a call on his best pitcher based on secondhand accounts from the player and the pitching coach.
Context matters here. Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3, when he faced the Padres and threw 110 pitches over six innings — his season high. The team shut him down afterward with inflammation in his left knee and a minor biceps issue. His progression back has been slow and included at least one setback: a minor step back after a session at Citizens Bank Park on July 22 pushed his first full bullpen all the way to August 15 at Dodger Stadium, where he threw 35 pitches with his full arsenal. On August 22 he faced live hitters for the first time — 30 pitches against catcher Will Smith. Then came Friday’s shorter session.
The Two Scenarios on the Table
Los Angeles has two concrete paths for his return:
- Option 1 — Sunday vs. Detroit: Ohtani opens the game as a one-inning starter, with Tyler Glasnow covering the rest. It wouldn’t be a traditional start — it’s a piggyback arrangement the Dodgers have been evaluating for weeks as a postseason rehearsal.
- Option 2 — Tuesday vs. St. Louis: If the staff decides they need more information, the return shifts to Tuesday in Los Angeles against the Cardinals, with Eric Lauer as the bulk pitcher behind him.
Either way, the message is the same: the Dodgers aren’t in a rush. If there are no more setbacks, the calendar allows Ohtani to make up to five starts before the end of the regular season, each with at least five days of rest in between. The goal isn’t to earn his spot in the rotation — that’s never been in question. The goal is to get to October with a healthy knee.
Why the Dodgers Are Playing It Carefully
One number explains the caution: when they shut him down in July, Ohtani was 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA over 85⅔ innings and 95 strikeouts. That’s historically elite for any pitcher, let alone one who also hits. Risking that for an August start against Detroit when the knee isn’t fully right doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Roberts has already said publicly that Ohtani will pitch in the playoffs. The piggyback setup with Glasnow being floated for Sunday is, in that sense, a dress rehearsal: two Cy Young-caliber arms in the same game, one opening at full throttle for an inning, the other covering five or six. That’s the kind of edge that makes the Dodgers the Dodgers.
The final decision is expected Saturday, after Roberts speaks with Ohtani and Prior. If Shohei says he feels good, Sunday could be the day. If not, Tuesday in Los Angeles makes all the sense in the world.
Ohtani’s 2026 Numbers — Both Ways
Ohtani plays both sides of the game, and Statcast tracks both. Here’s where he stands in 2026:
At the plate (568 plate appearances):
- 30 home runs, 80 RBI
- AVG: .283 | OPS: .921
- xwOBA: .404 (99th percentile — elite)
- Exit velocity: 93.5 mph avg (98th percentile)
- Barrel rate: 16.2% (97th percentile)
- Hard-hit rate: 52.3% (95th percentile)
- Bat speed: 74.7 mph avg (80th percentile)
On the mound (14 starts, 85⅔ innings):
- ERA: 1.79 | WHIP: 0.95 | Record: 8-2
- 95 strikeouts, 26 walks (27.9% K rate)
- xERA: 2.72 (94th percentile)
- Fastball avg: 97.8 mph with 2,459 rpm spin (93rd percentile velocity)
- Whiff rate: 30.4% (86th percentile)
- Opponent AVG: .180
- Exit velocity allowed: 87.4 mph | Barrel rate allowed: 3.8% (94th percentile in barrels avoided)
