Dodgers reconsider Ohtani's pitching comeback after abbreviated bullpen

Shohei Ohtani, sidelined since July 3 with left knee inflammation, threw a 20-pitch bullpen session on Friday but did not feel fully healthy. Manager Dave Roberts said the team is unsure whether Ohtani will make his scheduled start this weekend or in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are weighing whether to delay his return to allow more recovery time.

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Ohtani’s Friday bullpen session was notably shorter than his typical pre-start workload, and he reported lingering discomfort beyond the knee, including right biceps soreness. His last game action on the mound came July 3, and the team had mapped a path toward five starts before the postseason, with Sunday in Detroit or Tuesday in Los Angeles as potential return dates. Manager Dave Roberts indicated a final decision on Sunday’s starter would come after Saturday’s game, with Tyler Glasnow as the likely alternative.

Since resuming his throwing