Shohei Ohtani could return to pitching next week, per CBS Sports report

Shohei Ohtani could return to pitching as soon as next week, CBS Sports reported, after missing time on the mound since July 3 due to knee inflammation and then a bicep issue.

Per the report, the Dodgers have not specified a firm target date, detailed what Ohtani's throwing program has looked like during the layoff, or disclosed whether he has faced hitters in live batting practice. The timeline remains tentative, and no official club statement has accompanied the report.

What happened

Ohtani has not pitched since July 3, per CBS Sports. The report attributed the absence to knee inflammation followed by a bicep issue. The possible return window cited in the report is next week, though no firm date or activation announcement has been made.

The Dodgers have not publicly detailed the severity of either condition, the progression of Ohtani's throwing program, or whether he will require a minor-league rehab assignment before rejoining the rotation. Per the report, it remains unclear whether Ohtani has thrown off a mound in recent days or whether the club has penciled him into a specific start.

Why it matters

Ohtani's return to pitching would restore a dimension the Dodgers have operated without for seven weeks. The club has leaned on a rotation anchored by Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Roki Sasaki while Ohtani has been limited to designated-hitter duties. Snell is scheduled to start Sunday against Pittsburgh, Glasnow is slated for Tuesday in Atlanta, and Sasaki is lined up for Wednesday.

A healthy Ohtani would give the Dodgers a fourth front-line starter as they push toward October. The club holds an 85-57 record and leads the National League West with a division magic number of 10. The rotation depth matters not only for the final month of the regular season but also for postseason roster construction, where a two-way player who can both hit and start games offers unique flexibility.

Per the report, it is unclear whether Ohtani's return would alter the current rotation order or whether the club would ease him back with a pitch count or innings limit. The absence of those details leaves open questions about how quickly Ohtani might resume a full starter's workload.

Where the club stands

The Dodgers entered Sunday with an 85-57 record, first in the National League West and riding a three-game winning streak. The division magic number sits at 10, meaning any combination of Dodgers wins and second-place losses totaling 10 clinches the division title.

The club hosts Pittsburgh on Sunday, with Blake Snell scheduled to face Lake Bachar. The Dodgers then travel to Atlanta for a two-game series beginning Tuesday, with Tyler Glasnow and Roki Sasaki slated to pitch against Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver, respectively.

The rotation has held together during Ohtani's absence, but the schedule ahead includes a stretch of games against playoff contenders. A return to pitching would deepen the club's options as it navigates the final weeks of the regular season and prepares for October.

What we don't know yet

Per the report, no target date for Ohtani's return has been specified, leaving the "next week" window open to interpretation. It is unclear whether the Dodgers have scheduled a bullpen session, a simulated game, or a rehab start in the minor leagues as part of his ramp-up.

The nature and severity of the bicep issue remain unaddressed. Per the report, it is not clear whether the bicep problem was a strain, tendinitis, or another condition, nor has the treatment or rest period Ohtani required been described. The progression from knee inflammation to a bicep issue suggests the layoff extended beyond the initial injury, but the report offered no timeline for when the bicep concern arose or how long it kept Ohtani from throwing.

The club has not announced whether Ohtani will face restrictions on his return, such as a pitch count or innings cap. Per the report, it also remains unclear whether Ohtani's hitting has been affected by the bicep issue or whether he has continued to serve as the designated hitter throughout the period he has been unable to pitch.

What to watch

The Dodgers' next scheduled starters are Snell on Sunday, Glasnow on Tuesday, and Sasaki on Wednesday. If Ohtani returns next week, the earliest plausible start would fall in the series following Atlanta, though the club has not announced a rotation plan beyond Wednesday.

Watch for any club statement detailing Ohtani's throwing program, including whether he has resumed mound work and whether a rehab assignment is planned. The Dodgers have not yet provided a public update on his status, and the report's tentative language suggests the timeline could shift depending on how Ohtani responds to increased workload.

If Ohtani does return to pitching, the operational question becomes how the Dodgers manage his workload over the final month. A pitcher returning in late August after a seven-week absence would typically build up arm strength gradually, but the club's postseason ambitions and the unique demands of a two-way player complicate the calculus. Per the report, it is not clear whether the Dodgers plan to limit Ohtani's innings or pitch count as he re-enters the rotation.

The division magic number of 10 means the Dodgers could clinch the National League West within the next two weeks, which would give the club flexibility to manage Ohtani's workload with an eye toward October rather than the regular-season finish line. Whether the club opts for caution or pushes Ohtani toward a full starter's role will become clear once he takes the mound again.