Dodgers Aim to Manage Ohtani's Pitching Workload

Shohei Ohtani set to make first start of 2026 season, Dodgers GM and manager discuss plans to keep two-way star healthy

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:35am

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A fragmented, geometric painting in the style of Pablo Picasso, capturing the dynamic motion and multiple perspectives of Shohei Ohtani as both a pitcher and batter. Bright, overlapping shapes in the colors of the Dodgers and Guardians uniforms convey the complexity of managing Ohtani's unique dual role.Cubist depiction of Shohei Ohtani's dual roles as pitcher and hitter, reflecting the Dodgers' challenge in managing the two-way star's workload.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers are preparing for Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound this season, with the team's general manager and manager discussing plans to manage the two-way star's pitching workload. Ohtani, who will make his first start of 2026 on Tuesday, has hinted at goals of winning the Cy Young Award and staying healthy for the entire season. The Dodgers say there is no blueprint for handling Ohtani's unique situation, and they will have ongoing conversations with him to determine the right balance of innings and rest.

Why it matters

Keeping Ohtani healthy and productive as both a pitcher and hitter is crucial for the Dodgers' success this season. The team will need to carefully monitor his workload to avoid injury and burnout, while also maximizing his impact on the mound. Finding the right approach could be the difference between Ohtani contending for a Cy Young and the Dodgers making a deep playoff run.

The details

Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said there is "no blueprint" for managing Ohtani's two-way role, and the team will have regular conversations with him to determine the right balance of innings and rest. Manager Dave Roberts said the team will be "fluid" with Ohtani's pitch counts, potentially letting him go six or seven innings depending on his efficiency. The Dodgers will also need to be mindful of not asking Ohtani to make a big jump in innings from last season, when he threw just 67⅓ innings including the postseason.

  • Ohtani will make his first start of the 2026 season on Tuesday, March 31.
  • In 2022, Ohtani pitched a career-high 166 innings for the Angels.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way star who will pitch and hit for the Dodgers this season, Ohtani is a four-time league MVP who is looking to win the Cy Young Award and stay healthy for a full season.

Brandon Gomes

The Dodgers' general manager, who says there is "no blueprint" for managing Ohtani's unique two-way role.

Dave Roberts

The Dodgers' manager, who says the team will be "fluid" with Ohtani's pitch counts and work to find the right balance of innings and rest.

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What they’re saying

“Getting a Cy Young means being able to throw more innings and being able to pitch throughout the whole season, so if that's the end result, that's a good sign for me. What I'm more focused on is just being healthy the whole year.”

— Shohei Ohtani

“I think it is very much a conversation as we get into it. As at-bats accumulate, the pitches, how stressful are the innings – it's an ongoing conversation. We've said this before – nobody understands what he does, what he goes through. So there is no blueprint of 'This worked for this player therefore it could work for you.' You just can't do that.”

— Brandon Gomes, Dodgers General Manager

“I think it's fluid. I like the six innings tomorrow, depending on how he's throwing the baseball. And then maybe a repeat of that, or seven depending on efficiency. But honestly, with Shohei, you've got to be willing to adapt, because if he's really efficient, then you're still trying to win the game. And if it makes sense, I'm not going to just pull the plug just because of a certain number.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

What’s next

The Dodgers will continue to monitor Ohtani's workload and recovery closely throughout the season, making adjustments to his pitching schedule as needed to keep him healthy and productive.

The takeaway

The Dodgers' approach to managing Shohei Ohtani's pitching workload this season will be crucial to the team's success. With no clear blueprint for handling a two-way superstar, the Dodgers will need to rely on open communication with Ohtani and a willingness to adapt their plans based on his performance and recovery.