Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Dodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

Download our Free Mobile App!
Faster with Fewer Ads

Get App
Dodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
    • 2026 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani Not Pitching More Than Five Innings Going Forward
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani Not Pitching More Than Five Innings Going Forward

Sebastian Abdón Ibarra
August 11, 2025
5 Min Read
SHARE

The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a scare during Shohei Ohtani’s start against the Cincinnati Reds on July 30 as he walked off the field with a trainer.

Ohtani exited as a pitcher in the fourth inning but remained the designated hitter for the rest of the game after it was determined that he was merely dealing with cramps rather than a serious injury.

Ohtani revealed after his start that the issue was specific to his right hip and that he first began experiencing trouble with cramping during the first inning.

At the time it still was his longest outing of the season despite not recording any outs in the fourth inning. He also threw a season-high 51 pitches.

The Dodgers have meticulously planned out Ohtani’s rehab and progression as a pitcher, dating back to last season, and make decisions with the upmost caution. For a brief moment, it had appeared as if the Dodgers’ worst fear had come true and it served as a good reminder why the team has brought Ohtani along slowly as a pitcher.

With that in mind, the Dodgers don’t foresee Ohtani throwing more than five innings in a start at any point this season.

The team believes that five innings should be sufficient in helping them get through a game and asking any more of Ohtani would not be worth the risk to his health.

“We don’t need him to. I think that it’s possible. I’m not saying it’s unlikely,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think the five-inning threshold is something that we feel can get you through a game and use relievers.

“So you’re still weighing the fact of the cost of getting him more beyond that, right? So I think that the five-inning threshold, we’re very comfortable with now.

“Going forward, we’ll see if that changes. But I think for sure for the next few turns, I don’t see him getting beyond five. I mean, I feel very confident in that.”

The Dodgers believe it is more prudent to err on the side of caution when it comes to Ohtani’s workload as a pitcher because of the everyday impact he provides in the lineup.

“Well, I think it’s workload, it’s tax to the body. There could be kind of five innings is more than four, there’s more stress,” Roberts explained.

“I think this is just his first year, and it’s probably a better question for the training staff, but for me, my eyes, first year pitching again, what we’re doing right now is essentially house money. It’s additive being the two-way player.

“So then we got to be mindful of Shohei now, and also going forward.”

Ohtani made his scheduled start this past Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals without further incident, setting season highs in innings (four) and strikeouts (eight) while allowing just one earned run. He also hit a home run in the game.

Why are the Dodgers are managing Shohei Ohtani’s fatigue?

The best way the Dodgers can practice preventative medicine is by helping Ohtani avoid excess fatigue. As the only player in the Majors pitching and hitting, he puts a lot more strain on his body than any contemporary.

If the Dodgers want to give Ohtani the best chance possible at remaining healthy, they have to manage his workload.

“Any trainer, doctor, will say that fatigue increases the chance of injury,” Roberts said. “So if you can kind of manage that, I think that’s a very smart way to go, and that’s kind of where we are all aligned as an organization.”

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Los Angeles DodgersShohei Ohtani
BySebastian Abdón Ibarra
Sebastian Ibarra covers the Las Vegas Raiders as a staff writer for Raiders Newswire. He previously worked as a Marketing/Communications intern for the Ontario Jr Reign, and a staff writer and two time Editor for the Campus Times at the University of La Verne. Sebastian graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2022 from ULV with a major in Communications. His love of sports stems from his baseball career starting at tee-ball and ending his senior year at Servite High School. He enjoys video games and DC comics in his spare time. Follow him on Twitter: @sebas_abdon.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

2025 MLB Draft logo
Dodgers News

2025 Dodgers MLB Draft: Rounds 6-10 Selections On Day 2

July 15, 2025
July 16, 2025
Steven Souza Jr.
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: AJ Pollock Approves Of Steven Souza Jr.’s Impersonation

September 4, 2021
September 4, 2021
Corey Seager
FeaturedGame Central

Dodgers Vs. Diamondbacks Game Preview: Corey Seager Returns To Lineup

July 30, 2021
July 30, 2021
Justin Turner
FeaturedVideo

Dodgers Highlights: Trea Turner, Justin Turner & Will Smith Lead Offense Vs. Twins

April 13, 2022
April 13, 2022

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어