LOS ANGELES — Even Shohei Ohtani was curious how he would feel after pitching in a major-league game for the first time in 22 months.
“I did hit 100 (mph) today, so I want to see first where my body feels and how it reacts,” he said through an interpreter following Monday’s game.
Before Tuesday’s game, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani was “feeling good” after his one-inning, 28-pitch outing against the San Diego Padres.
“I think he’s just a little fatigued but feels good,” Roberts said, adding that there was no thought given to giving Ohtani the day off from his DH duties on Tuesday. “Don’t know when he’s going to pitch again. He’s probably going to do a little touch-and-feel (a light bullpen session) some time this week. Then whether it’s Saturday, Sunday, Monday, something like that. It’s kind of a week situation but not a hard-and-fast seven days.”
Unless there is the first rainout at Dodger Stadium since April 2000, Ohtani won’t be pitching on Monday. The Dodgers are scheduled to be off that day before starting a road trip in Denver on Tuesday.
All signs point to Ohtani’s next start coming on Sunday against the Washington Nationals.
Ohtani also said after Monday’s outing that he hoped “to be able to go a little longer every time I’m out there so that the bullpen won’t be so taxed.”
Roberts said that would “not necessarily” happen in his next outing.
“We have the option to build an inning the next time out. But we also have the option to leave it at one. That I think is just going to be open-ended for now,” Roberts said.
“I would say it would be a trainer-Shohei decision and then as the game plays out, depending on the stress and the number of pitches, then it comes into my arena.”
GLASNOW PROGRESS
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow continued to progress in his return from a variety of issues, primarily shoulder discomfort and lower back pain. He threw more than 30 pitches in two simulated innings on Tuesday afternoon, facing two minor-league hitters – and broadcaster Jerry Hairston Jr., who had a base hit.
“Blind squirrel,” Roberts joked of Hairston’s success.
It was Glasnow’s second time facing hitters and Roberts gave him a positive review – despite Hairston’s hit.
“Just watching the two innings it was pretty good,” Roberts said.
Glasnow will throw another bullpen session this week but could start a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment after that. He will need at least three starts in the minors, Roberts said, before he could rejoin the Dodgers’ starting rotation for the first time since he came out of his April 27 start after just one inning.
Glasnow has blamed his issues this year on changes he made to his mechanics putting stress on different areas of his body. Glasnow made the changes to avoid a recurrence of the elbow injury that limited him during the second half of last season and caused him to miss the postseason.
“I think right now he’s certainly healthy,” Roberts said. “The delivery, the nuances of it, there are certainly differences. But with my eye I couldn’t see it. It still looks athletic. The throw, he feels good with. That’s kind of the thing I’m most encouraged about. He’s worked hard. The training side, the performance side, pitching coach side – he’s in a good spot.”
Meanwhile, Blake Snell added some breaking pitches to his bullpen session on Monday and is “getting closer” to facing hitters.
ALSO
Roberts has invited Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker and Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough to join his coaching staff for the All-Star Game to be played in Atlanta next month.
UP NEXT
Padres (RHP Stephen Kolek, 3-2, 3.50 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Emmet Sheehan, 1st MLB start in 2025), Wednesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM