Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Set for Fourth Start Amid Bullpen Injuries

Shohei Ohtani is progressing in his recovery from Tommy John surgery as he prepares for his fourth pitching start for the Los Angeles Dodgers, scheduled against Houston. Ohtani has shown promising performance on the mound with a 2.25 ERA over 4 innings, including a career-high fastball velocity of 101.7 mph in his last outing, where he pitched two scoreless innings. Despite his pitching improvements, Ohtani's offensive production has been affected when he bats immediately after pitching, prompting Dodgers manager Dave Roberts to consider moving him from the leadoff spot to a lower lineup position to better manage his performance. Roberts emphasized a cautious approach to Ohtani's pitching workload, aiming to fully build him up without risking his health or offensive contributions. Reliever Michael Kopech was recently placed on the injured list with a knee issue, but scans showed no serious damage. The Dodgers continue to balance Ohtani's roles as a two-way star while managing his gradual return to the pitching rotation.