Shohei Ohtani has delivered a major update on his two-way role with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The superstar said he will “most likely” not pitch again during the 2026 season, shifting his focus toward hitting as the Dodgers prepare for the postseason. The comments effectively signal that Ohtani’s return to the mound is becoming increasingly unlikely, even though the Dodgers have not formally shut down his pitching plans.
The Shohei Ohtani pitching update does not represent an official shutdown yet. Ohtani remains technically available to return to the mound, but his latest comments make a pitching comeback increasingly unlikely with the regular season entering its final weeks. For Los Angeles, the priority now appears to be keeping its biggest star healthy and productive at the plate.
Ohtani returned to the Dodgers lineup Monday as the designated hitter after missing four consecutive games. The absence came while he dealt with several physical issues, including left knee soreness, right biceps discomfort and neck soreness. He returned against the Cincinnati Reds and went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk as Los Angeles won 6-3.
The Dodgers have been carefully managing the two-way star because the team wants him healthy for the most important part of the season. Ohtani had not pitched since July 3, with his left knee issue becoming the primary obstacle to his return to the mound. Although he previously progressed through throwing sessions and live batting practice, the club has been unable to get him back into a major league game.
That approach gives the team a better chance of having its superstar available for October, even if it means sacrificing his pitching contributions for the remainder of the regular season.
Manager Dave Roberts had already indicated that the calendar was working against any realistic return to the rotation.Ohtani’s left knee soreness has kept him from pitching since July 3. The right biceps issue also affected his throwing program, while neck soreness became another concern during his recent struggles at the plate. Those problems have made it increasingly difficult to build the workload necessary for a postseason pitching role without taking unnecessary risks.
The Dodgers restarted Ohtani’s throwing program on August 8, and he eventually progressed to facing live hitters. His progress, however, did not lead to a clear return date, and later setbacks complicated the plan again. With the postseason approaching, protecting his health has become more important than forcing another regular-season pitching appearance.
Ohtani’s potential pitching shutdown matters because of how effective he was before injury concerns intensified. He finished his pitching workload at 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts across 14 starts. Those numbers put the two-way star firmly among the most effective pitchers in the National League before his knee issue halted his season on the mound.
Those numbers made Ohtani an important part of the Dodgers’ pitching plans. His ability to provide quality innings while also remaining one of baseball’s most dangerous hitters gave Los Angeles a unique advantage. Even a limited version of that two-way production can dramatically change the way opposing teams prepare for a series.
Removing Ohtani from the pitching equation creates an obvious challenge for Los Angeles. The Dodgers will need their other starters to carry more responsibility as the postseason approaches. With the rotation already dealing with injuries and workload concerns, every reliable starting option becomes more important.
The situation became even more important Monday when Emmet Sheehan returned from the minors and delivered 10 strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings against Cincinnati. The right-hander allowed one run and three hits while tying his career high in strikeouts during a 6-3 Dodgers victory.
The Dodgers still have time to determine their postseason pitching structure. However, the organization can no longer build its October plans around the assumption that Ohtani will eventually return to the mound. Sheehan’s strong outing could help ease that concern, but Los Angeles will need more consistency from its pitching staff if it wants to make another deep playoff run.
Even without pitching, Ohtani remains one of the most important players on the Dodgers’ roster. His offensive production gives Los Angeles a dangerous middle-of-the-order presence heading into the final weeks of the regular season. The club’s decision to prioritize his hitting shows just how valuable his bat remains to its championship hopes.
Ohtani entered Monday with a .277 batting average, 30 home runs and 80 RBIs. His recent form had been less impressive before his four-game absence, but the Dodgers still clearly value his ability to change games with his bat. His offensive numbers remain strong enough to make him one of the most dangerous hitters in the lineup.
That makes Ohtani’s health particularly important. The Dodgers would rather have a healthy superstar contributing offensively than risk further injury by pushing him toward a pitching comeback that may not happen anyway.
The biggest consequence is simple: Los Angeles must prepare for October as if Ohtani will not pitch. The team can still leave the door open for a late-season surprise, but its rotation cannot depend on one. Planning around the more likely scenario gives the Dodgers time to establish a postseason pitching structure without waiting for an uncertain comeback.
That distinction matters because Ohtani has not been officially ruled out. His words indicate that pitching again is unlikely, but circumstances can change if his health improves significantly. The smarter approach is to protect his health and maximize his offensive value.
The Dodgers have enough established pitching to remain a serious contender, but they will need consistency from the rest of the rotation to make a deep postseason run.
The Dodgers should stop planning around the possibility of Shohei Ohtani pitching again this season. His latest statement makes it clear that a mound return is becoming the exception rather than the expectation. Los Angeles should therefore build its postseason rotation around the pitchers who are actually available rather than waiting for an unlikely development.
That is disappointing for baseball fans, especially after Ohtani showed how effective he could be on the mound this season. Protecting the two-way star’s health is still the right decision because the Dodgers have far more to gain from having his bat available throughout October. A healthy Ohtani as a designated hitter is a much better postseason asset than an injured Ohtani trying to force his way back onto the mound. The real test now is whether the Dodgers can build a championship-caliber rotation without him.
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