Shohei Ohtani is back in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup, but fans should not expect to see him on the mound during the 2026 playoffs.
The Dodgers activated Ohtani from the injured list on September 23 after he spent two weeks recovering from lingering problems with his left knee and right biceps. He returned as the designated hitter and collected a hit and a walk against the San Diego Padres.
His pitching season, however, is effectively over. Ohtani has not pitched since July 3, and the Dodgers shut down his throwing program after his knee and biceps problems worsened while he was attempting to build back up as a starter.
Why Isn’t Shohei Ohtani Pitching?
The primary reason Ohtani is not pitching is a combination of persistent left knee soreness and right biceps discomfort.
The knee problem has bothered Ohtani since June and was the main reason the Dodgers stopped using him as a pitcher after his July 3 start. A right biceps issue subsequently complicated his attempt to resume throwing. [MLB]
Los Angeles initially hoped Ohtani could resume pitching before the end of the season. He restarted a throwing program on August 8, but his physical condition deteriorated as the workload increased.
Manager Dave Roberts said in late August that Ohtani was not physically ready to pitch and emphasized that the Dodgers would not put a conventional pitcher on the mound under the same circumstances. [MLB]
Is Shohei Ohtani Done Pitching In 2026?
Yes, barring an unexpected reversal.
The Dodgers have shut Ohtani down from pitching for the remainder of 2026. MLB’s Dodgers injury tracker lists his expected return as a hitter in September 2026 and as a pitcher in 2027. [MLB]
Ohtani himself acknowledged on September 8 that he probably would not pitch again this year.
“Most likely, no. I’m going to be focusing on hitting moving forward.”
Ohtani and the Dodgers determined that protecting his health and maximizing his offensive production was more important than continuing to push for a late-season pitching return. [MLB]
When Did Shohei Ohtani Last Pitch?
Ohtani last appeared on the mound on July 3, 2026.
He made 14 starts for Los Angeles before his pitching season was interrupted.
| 2026 Pitching Statistic | Ohtani |
|---|---|
| Starts | 14 |
| Record | 8-2 |
| ERA | 1.79 |
| Strikeouts | 95 |
| Innings | 85 2/3 |
Those numbers made Ohtani one of the Dodgers’ most effective starters when healthy. [MLB]
What Happened To Shohei Ohtani’s Knee?
Ohtani began experiencing inflammation in his left knee in June.
Imaging at the time did not reveal structural damage, and he was initially able to continue playing. The Dodgers gave him occasional rest from the lineup while monitoring the condition. [MLB]
The knee proved more problematic for pitching because of the additional stress involved in Ohtani’s delivery and pitching workload.
The Dodgers scratched Ohtani from a scheduled July 10 start because of continued irritation in the knee and announced that he would undergo treatment. He also missed the 2026 All-Star Game. [Dodgers]
He has not appeared on the mound since.
What Happened To Shohei Ohtani’s Right Biceps?
The right biceps issue developed later and further complicated Ohtani’s comeback as a pitcher.
Because Ohtani throws right-handed, discomfort in the biceps directly affected his ability to build his pitching workload. The problem eventually also bothered him while hitting.
By early September, Ohtani was dealing with the biceps problem, knee soreness and some neck discomfort. The Dodgers initially tried giving him several days of rest, but the biceps discomfort returned when he resumed hitting. [MLB]
That led Los Angeles to finally place him on the 15-day injured list.
Why Did The Dodgers Stop Ohtani’s Pitching Comeback?
The Dodgers were increasingly concerned that attempting to pitch was affecting Ohtani’s overall health — and possibly his value as a hitter.
Ohtani began his pitching buildup again on August 8. As that process intensified, his offensive production declined sharply.
MLB reported that Ohtani hit .198 with a .690 OPS and 34 strikeouts over the 24 games preceding his trip to the injured list. The Dodgers did not establish that pitching caused the slump, but the timing contributed to their decision to remove pitching from his workload. [MLB]
Roberts explained that the Dodgers could not allow the pitching process to compromise one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball.
The decision became even easier because Los Angeles already has a deep postseason starting rotation.
Did Shohei Ohtani Return From The Injured List?
Yes. Ohtani was activated on September 23, the first day he was eligible to return after a minimum-length stint on the 15-day injured list.
He returned strictly as a designated hitter against San Diego.
Ohtani singled in his first plate appearance and later drew a walk, finishing 1-for-4 in the Dodgers’ 5-1 loss. Roberts said afterward that Ohtani appeared physically better and was encouraged by the quality of his at-bats. [Los Angeles Times]
It was Ohtani’s first game in more than two weeks.
Why Was Shohei Ohtani Batting Second?
Ohtani usually bats leadoff for Los Angeles, but he returned in the No. 2 spot against Padres left-hander Robbie Ray.
Mookie Betts moved into the leadoff position.
Roberts indicated that the arrangement could continue depending on the opposing pitcher. Betts may lead off against left-handers, while Ohtani could return to the top spot against right-handers. [MLB]
The change therefore was not simply because Ohtani had been injured. It also gives Roberts another way to structure the top of the Dodgers lineup based on matchups.
Will Shohei Ohtani Pitch In The 2026 MLB Playoffs?
Ohtani is not expected to pitch during the postseason.
Earlier in the year, Los Angeles hoped he could be part of its October rotation. By September, however, his physical problems and the time required to rebuild a starting pitcher’s workload made that increasingly unrealistic.
The Dodgers formally shut down his throwing program, and their current plan is for him to focus entirely on hitting through the postseason. [MLB]
His 2026 playoff role should therefore resemble his role during the Dodgers’ 2024 championship run: an everyday designated hitter rather than a two-way player.
What Will Shohei Ohtani’s Playoff Role Be?
Ohtani is expected to serve as one of the anchors of the Dodgers’ postseason lineup.
Los Angeles wants to use the final regular-season games to restore his timing against major league pitching. When the Dodgers activated him, Roberts said the club wanted Ohtani playing regularly because he had not been able to take normal live at-bats while on the injured list. [MLB]
That makes the final days of September essentially a postseason tune-up.
The priority is no longer preparing Ohtani to throw 80 or 90 pitches. It is getting his swing, timing and physical condition ready for October.
Who Will Pitch For The Dodgers Instead Of Ohtani?
Los Angeles is unusually well positioned to withstand the loss of Ohtani from the pitching staff.
MLB identified Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow as the Dodgers’ primary postseason rotation options. [MLB]
That depth is a major reason the Dodgers can afford to prioritize Ohtani’s offense rather than rush him back to the mound.
Roberts made essentially that point in August, explaining that the strength of the starting staff changed the risk-reward calculation. Ohtani’s bat was too important to jeopardize merely to add another starter to an already strong rotation. [MLB]
How Did Shohei Ohtani Pitch Before Getting Hurt?
Ohtani’s pitching shutdown was particularly disappointing because he had been excellent.
He went 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts. [MLB]
Those numbers demonstrated that Ohtani remained capable of pitching at an elite level after returning from the elbow surgery that had prevented him from pitching during his first season with Los Angeles in 2024.
His current shutdown is not being attributed to another torn elbow ligament. The problems that stopped his 2026 pitching season are primarily the left knee and right biceps injuries.
When Will Shohei Ohtani Pitch Again?
The Dodgers currently expect Ohtani’s next pitching appearances to come in 2027.
There has been no announced Opening Day guarantee or specific date for his return to the rotation. His throwing progression will depend on how the knee, biceps and the rest of his body respond following the offseason.
For the immediate future, the Dodgers’ plan is much clearer: Ohtani will hit, not pitch, as Los Angeles tries to win a third consecutive World Series championship.
Shohei Ohtani Pitching Status FAQ
Why isn’t Shohei Ohtani pitching?
Ohtani has been dealing with persistent left knee soreness and right biceps discomfort. Those injuries disrupted his attempt to rebuild his pitching workload, and the Dodgers eventually shut him down from throwing. [MLB]
When did Shohei Ohtani last pitch?
His most recent pitching appearance was July 3, 2026.
Will Shohei Ohtani pitch in the 2026 playoffs?
No pitching return is expected. The Dodgers have shut him down from pitching for the year and are preparing him for the postseason solely as a hitter. [MLB]
Is Shohei Ohtani still playing?
Yes. Ohtani returned from the injured list on September 23 and is playing designated hitter. He singled and walked in his first game back against San Diego. [Los Angeles Times]
Did Shohei Ohtani hurt his elbow again?
The Dodgers have not identified another elbow ligament injury as the reason for the shutdown. His current pitching problems have centered on his left knee and right biceps.
When will Shohei Ohtani pitch again?
MLB’s Dodgers injury tracker lists 2027 as his expected return as a pitcher. No specific game or date has been announced. [MLB]
What will Shohei Ohtani do in the playoffs?
Ohtani is expected to be an everyday designated hitter near the top of the Dodgers lineup. Los Angeles is using the final games of the regular season to get him as many competitive at-bats as possible before October.
