LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani could be back in the Dodgers’ starting lineup as soon as Monday. But the likelihood of him pitching again this season has all but disappeared.
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“Yesterday was a good day,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Ohtani, who hit in the batting cage on Saturday. “He came out of it feeling well. So if nothing else changes, or (it) continues to trend, I see him in there tomorrow.
“Today he’s going to go through his work and should be good to go tomorrow … Until he’s written in the lineup, we don’t know 100 percent, but I’m hopeful.”
Sunday was the fourth consecutive game Ohtani was out of the lineup with left knee pain and a sore right biceps. Both issues have “calmed down” during the four-day break.
“I think that just a handful of days ago, where he was at, talking to him the day after it, just felt that a few days could potentially be of benefit,” Roberts said. “Fortunately, that’s how it’s played out.”
Meanwhile, Ohtani has put his throwing on hold during this stretch, making it unlikely he will be able to return to pitching before the end of the season.
“Not officially, but obviously, if you’re looking at the calendar, how much he’s thrown in the last week, I think we can all do the math,” Roberts said of Ohtani being shut down as a pitcher.
Roberts said it was “unlikely” Ohtani would even be able to pitch an inning at a time as an ‘opener’ in the postseason.
RUSHING OUT
An MRI on Dalton Rushing’s injured right elbow revealed “more of the same,” according to Roberts. Rushing was placed back on the injured list Sunday with renewed discomfort related to the slight tear in his ulnar collateral ligament.
Rushing had progressed in a throwing program to the point where he was long-tossing in the outfield before Saturday’s game when the elbow flared up.
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Roberts said he doesn’t think the tear is going to require surgery. But Rushing will not resume his throwing program.
“I don’t think so,” Roberts said. “I think for us and for Dalton, it’s just more of we’ll get through this year, building up the hitting and kind of see where the offseason takes us.”
Eliezer Alfonzo was promoted from Triple-A to take Rushing’s spot on the roster. By carrying three catchers, Roberts said Hunter Feduccia could be a left-handed pinch-hit option on days when Will Smith is catching.
REHAB REPORT
Right-hander Edwin Diaz began his minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Sunday. Diaz walked a batter and struck out a batter in a scoreless inning. He threw 16 pitches, only seven strikes.
“It was good,” Roberts said of the reports from OKC. “I’m sure Edwin’s going to want to get back here as soon as possible. I’m probably more on the get another one and then get back with us.”
PITCHING PLAN
Right-hander Emmet Sheehan will be promoted from Triple-A to pitch Monday against the Cincinnati Reds, either as a starter or possibly following an ‘opener.’
Sheehan has gone 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA, 24 strikeouts and just 10 hits allowed in 18 innings over four starts since being demoted following the trade deadline. He was named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Month for August.
UP NEXT
Reds (RHP Chase Burns, 15-3, 2.79 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Emmet Sheehan, 4-8, 5.29 ERA), Monday, 6:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
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