Dodgers temper expectations for Shohei Ohtani’s pitching return, manager says health is “not 100%”

The Los Angeles Dodgers are still planning to get Shohei Ohtani back on the mound this season, but they are adjusting their approach after acknowledging that the two-way star is not at full strength. Speaking in the context of the team’s late-season workload management, manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is “not 100%,” an admission that indicates the Dodgers may be less willing to push quickly if his pitching progression has to be modified.

The timing matters because the Dodgers are managing not only a single return but also what comes immediately afterward. In these final weeks, teams weigh every additional pitching session against the risk of setbacks that can alter bullpen usage and overall rotation planning. By publicly tempering expectations, Los Angeles is essentially laying out that the path back to the hill will be based on day-to-day readiness rather than a fixed timetable.

Ohtani’s own feedback, as reported by the Dodgers, also figures into the cautious tone. The team said Ohtani reported he did not feel his best physically after throwing, which helps explain why the organization is emphasizing monitoring and potential adjustment. For a player returning as a pitcher, the difference between “getting through” a session and “feeling right” can affect how the next step is handled.

Roberts’ comments, centered on the “not 100%” status, indicate that the Dodgers expect Ohtani to be part of their pitching picture, but they may not be able to guarantee a smooth or uninterrupted ramp. That distinction is important, because a late-season pitching return is not simply about whether Ohtani can throw, it is about whether he can do it with the same mechanics and intensity needed to be effective at game speed.

For Dodgers fans, the most tangible impact of this stance is the way it could change the team’s near-term roster usage. Even without specific decisions spelled out, a pitch-return plan that depends on health can affect how often the club taps setup relievers and how much rest it tries to build into the bullpen. Those choices can become especially consequential if the club needs leverage outs in close games during the final week or two.

The story also carries a broader baseball reality: two-way players often manage pitching and hitting around physical recovery, and by the time September approaches, the margin for error shrinks. A return that is contingent on feeling “right” can be slower than fans expect, and it can also lead to setbacks that change the timeline again.

What to watch next is how the Dodgers describe Ohtani’s progression in subsequent updates: whether the team speaks in terms of step-by-step readiness, adds further sessions with more volume, or instead prioritizes conservative management. If his physical condition improves and he reports feeling closer to his best, that would support the underlying expectation of a pitching contribution this season. If not, the Dodgers’ “not 100%” framing suggests the staff will place caution ahead of urgency.

For now, Los Angeles is holding on to the plan to bring Ohtani back as a pitcher, while making clear that his health status is shaping the pace. The Dodgers’ late-season readiness is likely to depend as much on how he feels after throwing as on what the calendar says, and that is the key message embedded in Roberts’ remarks.