Dodgers Receive Crucial Advice on Shohei Ohtani After Dave Roberts Clears Air on Pitching Return

When the Dodgers need clarity, Dave Roberts delivers it—with just enough vagueness to keep everyone guessing. Shohei Ohtani’s pitching return has become the franchise’s favorite guessing game, and now, even the whispers come with pitch counts. As simulated games pile up and speculation mounts, Roberts has decided it’s time to “clear the air,” which, in classic Dodgers fashion, means fogging it up with optimism and half-promises.

The biggest mysteries in the world currently are not the Bermuda Triangle or the City of Atlantis; it is when Ohtani will be back on the mound. There has been speculation that he is closer to returning than before, but how close is the question? With Roberts saying that he is closer, and the pitching coach saying he needs to throw 60-70 pitches, there might be a timeline.

This is exactly what was discussed on the JM Baseball YouTube channel. They talked about Ohtani and how the Los Angeles Dodgers are handling his pitching return. After the Dodgers update, one of the hosts said, “So, if I’m running the show, I’m waiting till he gets back to 75 pitches before I bring him in… I mean, I think that could be like right before the All-Star break.”

Ohtani’s rehab is trending upward, and the numbers tell the story. In his third simulated outing, he threw 44 pitches over three innings, striking out six batters with ease. His fastball velocity is already touching the mid-90s, a sign that the arm strength is returning. Each session sees an increase of 10–15 pitches, building toward full starter readiness.

But throwing 44 isn’t enough in the big leagues—it’s barely a warm-up for a real start. Anything under 75 pitches forces early bullpen involvement, and that’s a bad trade-off. You don’t use a generational talent just to patchwork a rotation spot. Let him hit that 70-75 pitch threshold and return as a proper starter. Rushing him back for two to three innings creates more problems than it solves. Bullpen fatigue becomes real, especially across a 162-game season. You also risk disrupting Ohtani’s rhythm, balance, and recovery curve. Let him come back right, or risk throwing off both arms of his game.

So here we are—hovering somewhere between simulated optimism and actual game-day strategy. The Dodgers can either play the long game or gamble on short-term headlines. Ohtani isn’t a bullpen filler; he’s a rotation anchor with marketing wings. If Los Angeles wants fireworks in October, they’d better stop lighting matches in June. Let the man cook—just don’t serve him half-baked.

With Shohei Ohtani close to a return, a Dodgers player makes way with an injury

Injuries have become the Dodgers’ most consistent roster move this season—almost like a buy-one, get-one deal at this point. Just as Ohtani inches closer to solving L.A.’s pitching puzzle, fate taps another shoulder in the clubhouse. Matt Sauer’s rough night wasn’t the last chapter in this revolving-door saga, but it might’ve been the table of contents for what came next. And now, the shuffle continues.

The Dodgers are neck-deep in a pitching crisis, with 15 arms currently shelved. That’s over $100 million of talent sitting in recovery rooms instead of on the mound. Names like Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Tony Gonsolin highlight a list that’s become more of a scroll. What remains is a rotation stitched together by tape, prayers, and increasingly desperate call-ups.

The desperation was loudest against the Padres, where chaos replaced command. Sauer threw 111 pitches, allowed 13 hits and 9 runs, then handed it off to Enrique Hernández. Yes, the utilityman pitched 2 1/3 innings with 57-mph meatballs, and yes, it still somehow got worse. Roberts admitted they had to “punt” the game, because options were simply gone.

But amidst the rubble, a light flickers: Ohtani’s arm is stirring. Batting .290 with 23 homers and a 1.008 OPS, he’s already carried the offense. Now, simulated innings signal a return to the mound—possibly after the All-Star break. With every injury, the margin for error shrinks and the urgency multiplies. Ohtani’s return won’t fix everything, but it might stop the bleeding long enough to matter. If L.A. wants to be more than a well-funded cautionary tale, it’s time for their $700 million ace to wear both hats again. Otherwise, the next man up might be the clubhouse janitor.

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