Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared an update after two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound on his 31st birthday. Ohtani delivered two scoreless innings against the Astros in Game 2. It was his fourth career start this season since coming off Tommy John surgery full-time in 2023.
Ohtani started the season pitching just one inning per outing, but Saturday marked his second-straight two-inning performance. He threw 31 pitches, 21 of which were strikes, and struck out the side in the second inning with a sharp sweeper and sinker sequence. This outing came just days after he set a personal best with a 102 mph fastball in his Royals start.
While fans have been impressed with Ohtani’s brief appearances on the mound and want to see him return to pitching full-fledged, manager Dave Roberts revealed that it’s not going to happen this year.
“People always ask when he’s going to get to be a regular starter to the five innings. I don’t know that answer,” Roberts told Ken Rosenthal during the game.
“People always ask when is he going to get to be a regular starter to the five innings. I don’t know that answer.”@Ken_Rosenthal talks with Dave Roberts about Ohtani on the mound, if Mookie is starting to come around, and if he can provide updates on their injured pitchers. pic.twitter.com/cXKYVr1Jdp
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 6, 2025
The Dodgers’ skipper praised Ohtani’s command, particularly how he managed his sinker and sweeper, but made it clear that increasing innings isn’t the goal yet.
“I thought there was even more in there. But it was kind of predetermined … he got two innings, and we feel like we can kind of take that next step at some point.”
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Dave Roberts Believes Mookie Betts Is Back In Form
Another player who impressed Coach Dave was Mookie Betts. The slugger was going through a slump but found his rhythm in the game as he hit a solo home run in the first innings.
When asked if Mookie has started to come around, Dave Roberts said, “I think so.”
“I think when you start to struggle, you start to get a little careful, and you get in between. But I think the last couple days, he’s seeing the baseball, trusting his eyes, and let it fly.”
Despite Ohtani’s successful outing on the mound and Betts’ return to form, the Dodgers suffered a 6-4 loss, handing the Astros the 3-game series. The team will look to avoid a clean sweep when they face them for Game 3 on Sunday.
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