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Shohei Ohtani‘s next step in his pitching rehab has been pushed back slightly. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had indicated Ohtani would either face batters for a second time or throw a bullpen session at Truist Park during this road trip in Atlanta, per staff at DodgerBlue.com. After Tuesday night’s loss, Roberts narrowed it down to a bullpen session on either Wednesday or Thursday — but confirmed the session won’t happen Wednesday, pushing it to Thursday at the earliest.

The delay itself isn’t alarming. Roberts had previously signaled the club would be “more aggressive” with Ohtani’s pitching rehab, and a one-day push on a bullpen session doesn’t change that trajectory. What matters more is the clue Roberts gave about where this is all heading: Ohtani’s return to the starting rotation appears to be taking shape, with the bullpen session serving as a key checkpoint before any formal start date gets locked in. We’ve been tracking this rehab closely, and the fact that Roberts is openly discussing facing batters and bullpen sessions in the same breath suggests Ohtani on the mound in a real game isn’t far off.

Ohtani’s 2026 season has been defined by the long road back to the mound following his elbow surgery. As a hitter, he’s continued to be one of the most dangerous bats in baseball — that part was never in question. But the pitching side is what elevates him from superstar to something we’ve never really seen before in the sport. When he was last pitching regularly, Ohtani was one of the best arms in the game, combining a triple-digit fastball with a devastating sweeper and splitter. Getting that version of him back on the mound for a September push and (hopefully) October would fundamentally change the complexion of our rotation.

I think the key detail here is that Roberts didn’t sound concerned about the delay. This reads more like scheduling logistics on the road than any kind of setback. The Dodgers have been careful with Ohtani’s arm all year — sometimes frustratingly so — but that caution is by design. They’re not going to rush him back for a late-August start if it means jeopardizing his availability for when it truly counts. A Thursday bullpen, followed by potentially facing batters again, could still put him on track for a start in early September.

For the Dodgers, getting Ohtani back on the mound would be transformative. The rotation has leaned heavily on Tarik Skubal and recently activated Tyler Glasnow, while Roki Sasaki just hit the IL with a finger blister. Adding Ohtani to that mix — even on a limited pitch count initially — gives us a potential playoff rotation that no other team in baseball can match. Every step in this rehab matters, and Thursday’s bullpen session will be worth watching closely.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: August 27, 2026 4:09 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers