The Los Angeles Dodgers improved to 74-49 following a victory over Milwaukee, though the defending World Series champions have struggled recently, winning only 13 of their last 29 games. The team maintains an eight-game lead in the National League West and remains half a game ahead of the Atlanta Braves for the second seed.
The organization received encouraging news with Shohei Ohtani throwing his first bullpen session since being sidelined with knee and biceps injuries. The 32-year-old right-hander threw 34 pitches and utilized his complete pitch arsenal. Ohtani has not pitched in a game since July 3, though his return to the rotation does not appear imminent. General Manager Brandon Gomes emphasized the importance of taking a measured approach, noting that the team will monitor Ohtani’s recovery day-to-day before determining the next progression step.
Manager Dave Roberts outlined the timeline for Ohtani’s gradual return. Following one or two additional bullpen sessions, Ohtani would need to face hitters in at least two live batting practice sessions before rejoining the rotation. The club plans to utilize him as an opener initially, gradually building his pitch count in Major League games rather than sending him on a minor-league rehabilitation assignment, mirroring the strategy used during his recovery from elbow surgery the previous year.
Before his injury, Ohtani posted a 1.79 ERA with 95 strikeouts across 85 ⅔ innings in 14 starts. At the plate, he maintains a .290/.390/.540 batting line with 27 home runs and leads the National League with a .921 OPS. Given his current status, the Dodgers expect potential three-to-four inning starts rather than full outings in postseason play. Meanwhile, Tyler Glasnow continues his rehabilitation from a back injury and is expected to make another minor-league start, while the team operates a six-man rotation that includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Eric Lauer, Justin Wrobleski, Roki Sasaki, and trade deadline acquisition Tarik Skubal.
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