Dodgers Drop BOMBSHELL Report on Shohei Ohtani... | LA Dodgers News

The Dodgers drop a bombshell report on Shohei Ohtani. We get into that in this edition of Dodgers Digest. Hey, this is Mike Nelson. Make sure to subscribe to the channel. I want to thank the 42% of you, the ones who are watching these videos who have already hit the sub button. The 57% of you, I'm not sure why you haven't subscribed yet to the fastest growing Dodger channel on YouTube. Myself, Brad J, we're bringing you everyday Dodger content. You're not going to find it like this anywhere else, so make sure to hit that subscribe button and like this video as well. But let's get into it. Shohei Ohtani, when are we going to see him on the mound? Shohei Otani takes a big step in throwing, but Dave Roberts doesn't know what's next. I mean, that is a bit concerning, to say the least. He doesn't know what's next. I mean... We've got to find out when this is going to happen, right? When is Shohei Ohtani going to pitch for the Dodgers? Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts commented on two-way all-star Shohei Ohtani. He threw 50 pitches in his simulation, the most he's managed in a workout since his second elbow surgery. Mark, talking about a Mark Prior to the Dodgers pitching coach, said it was good. Again, I don't know what the next step is. I do know we continue to move forward. For him to continue to feel strong and healthy and be able to continue to build up is a good thing. I just don't know what the next step is right now. And that is a bit concerning because the Dodgers really need pitching. I mean, the Dodgers starting pitching has been an absolute disaster the last few days. I mean, getting swept by the Angels. None of the guys did well. Dustin May, you know, Clayton Kershaw, these guys, you know, Tony Gonsolin. And then yesterday, as we know, Jack Dreyer and Landon Knack did not have their best stuff. I mean, the pitching has just not been there, and it's set the Dodgers back the last few days. I mean, the Dodgers have now lost four in a row at home, which is an absolute shock when you say that, because they just won the World Series, and I don't think anybody had them losing four in a row at Dodger Stadium the next year against any team, right? So this is obviously bad news. It's shocking, but Shohei Ohtani could be the answer. I mean, do you really think the Dodgers, I mean, the way it's going right now, I mean, I know originally the Dodgers had said June, July, that, you know, when Ohtani could pitch and all that, but the Dodgers continue to struggle with their starting pitching. I mean, I think they're going to have to bring Shohei up sooner, right? I mean, Ohtani has been avoiding off-speed pitches during these training sessions, throwing a lot of fastballs, but Roberts says he's going to have to reincorporate them. Obviously, I mean, he's not going to just throw fastballs, but that's going to be the next step, trying to throw off-speed pitches before he starts facing hitters. And Roberts expects Ohtani to take the bump before the Dodgers fall in the all-star break. Now, that is a tentative... Um, timeline, because I think if things continue to go south for the Dodgers and they continue to drop games the way they're losing and the starting pitching does not improve, I am sure you could guarantee it that they are going to push that date up. They are going to push that up because the Dodgers, I mean, they're already really up against it, right? Ohtani hasn't made a pitching appearance in a game since August of 2023, but his return has been long awaited by Dodger fans who have yet to see him on the mound in blue. I think it's going to be a huge deal when he does eventually pitch for the Dodgers. Ohtani has a career 3.01 ERA and a 38-19 record as a pitcher, finished fourth in the Cy Young voting, and had, of course, a career-low 2.33 ERA, 166 innings pitched back in that 2022 season. Season 2023 was cut short. And he injured that elbow in that summer of 23. And that's why he hasn't pitched since August of 23. It's going to be two years this August. The last time Ohtani took the mound. Now, I don't think we're going to reach that two-year mark. I think Ohtani's going to pitch before August of this year. And you might be saying, well, Mike, how are the Dodgers going to sacrifice Ohtani? Ohtani's bad. I mean, the guy leads Major League Baseball in home runs. He almost has the most hits as well in the National League. Just a couple hits shy of the most in the whole National League, which is kind of crazy how many hits he's had. I mean, hitting over 300. It was funny because Ohtani... Had some rough moments early in the season where he was kind of slumping a bit, striking out a lot. But that has been all forgotten. I mean, Ohtani is back, and he's back in the best way. I mean, offensively, he's been on point, hitting home runs. Yesterday, he got another home run against the D-backs in a losing effort. Had some good contact, swinging the bat very well. So how are the Dodgers going to sacrifice all this? to get him on the mound. Well, I think they are willing to do that if the starting pitching continues to be at where it's at right now, right? I mean, you're having Glass now and Snell out for an extended period. Roki Sasaki is well injured. That's three players right now, three starting pitchers that are on the shelf for the Dodgers. And what happens if, you know, Gosselin had to cut on his thumb? I mean, if Gosselin goes through any arm issues, that would be another pitcher. And there just isn't... There isn't much else out, you know, that's coming up for the Dodgers. I mean, we've already saw Landon Knack. He doesn't seem to have his best stuff. Bobby Miller, are the Dodgers going to go to him next? You know, Justin Wrobleski. I mean, these guys really have not shown that they are going to be, you know, stars for the Dodgers. They're going to be starting pitchers that they can rely on for the Dodgers every, you know, five days or every week whenever they pitch. I mean, do you really see these guys ever panning out? To be starting pitchers that the Dodgers can rely on. I mean, I can see eventually some of these guys moving over to the bullpen. Because, like, do you see Landon Knack really going, like, six, seven innings in a game? I mean, the guy has not been very good for the Dodgers. You know, Jack Dreyer seems like he's been rushed into the major leagues. I don't know if people see that. Doesn't seem like he's really ready to be playing at this level yet. He's playing with the Dodgers due to the necessity of the injuries that they have in the bullpen. And, you know, trying to get him to be like a, you know, a long reliever. I guess an opener when he starts games, goes a few innings. But it really hasn't worked out, right? I mean, Jack Dreyer definitely, I think, needs more time in. Triple A to kind of get his reps and, you know, get back, you know, to get at the level for Major League Baseball. Because right now, the Dodgers just don't have a reliable starting rotation. Tonight, they have Yoshinobu Yamamoto going, who has been the most reliable pitcher for the Dodgers in the early onset of the 2025 season. This isn't, um... What happens if they lose tonight, though? What happens if he doesn't bring his best effort? Thank Hopefully, Yamamoto's not dealing with any arm issues. I know the last couple starts have been a bit of a struggle for him, you and you just hope that he's at 100% and not dealing with anything because last year, the guy missed a long period. for Let's not forget he was out three months. So you hope that Yamamoto is okay your because this year the Dodgers really are going down like flies when it comes to the pitching, right? effort. I mean, they're already, it's May 20th and they've already had so many pitchers go on the IL and there's pitchers right now that are on the IL with no timetable for their return, which is very concerning because there's still a lot of games to go. The Dodgers are in first place right now, only a half a game ahead of San Diego and a game ahead of the Giants who lost yesterday. But that is going to quickly change if the Dodgers keep losing games. And the schedule does not get easier for the Dodgers this month. They have two more games against the D-backs here at Dodgers Stadium. And then they got to go to New York and play the Mets for three more on the road. And that's going to be tough. And they got to go to Cleveland out in Ohio. It's going to be some cold weather, it looks like, looking at the forecast. An unseasonably cold front hitting Ohio next week. So it's going to be a bit chilly in Cleveland Monday through Wednesday. Then they've got to fly home and play the Yankees, right? And then play the Mets again. They play the Yankees for three. Then they've got the Mets for four that first week of June. So they have so many tough games coming up, and you just hope the Dodgers can put together something and somehow, you know, they're just putting bandages right now at this point for the pitchers. As always, make sure to subscribe, and let's go Dodgers. Woo!