Shohei Ohtani's Return to Dodgers Pitching Rotation May Come Soon

Shohei Ohtani is approaching a return to the Dodgers' starting rotation after a lengthy recovery from a left knee injury. Manager Dave Roberts announced that Ohtani's comeback could occur sooner than previously anticipated.

After throwing 30 pitches in a live batting practice session at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani is scheduled to have a bullpen session during the upcoming series in Atlanta. The team will assess whether he can rejoin the rotation or if he requires additional live batting practice before returning to game action.

Ohtani's return is seen as a positive development for his postseason prospects, as he had a strong start to the season with an 8-2 record and a 1.79 ERA before his injury. The Dodgers plan to increase his workload more rapidly than last year, potentially allowing him to make full-length starts in October.