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Shohei Ohtani is unlikely to pitch again in 2026 after Dave Roberts shut down his throwing program, per staff at Dodger Blue. The decision to halt Ohtani’s pitching preparation represents an official acknowledgment that his dual-role contributions for the season have been restricted to offensive play only, with no expectation for him to return to the mound before the postseason—if at all this year.

This is the formal closing of a door that’s been creaking open all week. Roberts’ candor earlier in the week about Ohtani’s uncertain pitching availability was a signal; now it’s official policy. Ohtani will not throw. He will not prepare to pitch. The organization has made the calculation that even attempting to get him back on the mound would be counterproductive to preserving his health heading into October. The biceps injury that emerged following the Cardinals series made throwing mechanics suspect. The layering of additional injuries—left knee soreness, neck discomfort—only reinforced the decision that asking his body to handle both hitting and pitching right now is unrealistic.

Ohtani arrived in Los Angeles with a contract that was structured to allow him to serve both as a hitter and as a transitional pitcher working his way back to regular mound appearances. The injury cascade has eliminated that possibility entirely. He’s now strictly a designated hitter heading into the most critical month of the season. His value is capped. His versatility is negated. The front office has decided his bat is enough; his arm can wait until 2027 if recovery allows.

For the Dodgers, this decision is both practical and sobering. Practical because we get to focus Ohtani’s recovery on one role rather than splitting resources between two. Sobering because it reinforces how significantly injured he is. We can’t get his pitching back. We’re fighting just to keep his hitting available and functional. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Tarik Skubal will have to be enough. Edgardo Henríquez and other depth arms will fill gaps as needed. This is the rotation we have. This is the team we’re taking into October. No two-way Ohtani. No emergency starting pitcher tucked into our lineup. Just the guys who can stay healthy. That’s our reality now, and the sooner we accept it and move forward, the better chance we have to compete.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: September 7, 2026 1:00 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers