Exclusive | Dodgers to continue Shohei Ohtanis pitching progression, despite latest setback

The Dodgers don’t know when Shohei Ohtani will make his return to the pitching staff, after having an expected start last Sunday scuttled because of ongoing issues with his knee and biceps injuries.However, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team is still aiming to have Ohtani pitch again this year, despite recent calls for the club to shut down the two-way star from pitching and have him focus solely on hitting instead.“Obviously, it’s tricky navigating a build-up progression with someone who is also DH’ing by night,” Friedman told the California Post in an interview on Tuesday.But, the veteran executive added, “he obviously wants to get back out there, helping the team on the mound as well.”Ohtani has not made a pitching start for the Dodgers since July 3, having faced repeated setbacks and changes of plan while trying to recover from his dueling physical ailments.The latest twist came last weekend, when the team backtracked on its tentative aim of having Ohtani make a one-inning start in Detroit on Sunday following a bullpen session in which he still didn’t feel 100%.At that time, manager Dave Roberts painted an uncertain picture of Ohtani’s status as a pitcher –– saying that, while the team would of course like to have the superstar right-hander back on the mound in time for the playoffs, it would have to weigh the toll it might take on him as a hitter, especially amid Ohtani’s recent slump at the plate.California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story “His value offensively is hugely important,” Roberts noted.“So if throwing potentially cuts into that, that’s not worth the squeeze.”Ohtani’s chances of getting built back up to make full-length starts in the playoffs were also likely dashed by having ...