Shohei Ohtani to make second start for Dodgers on Sunday

After pitching for the first time in nearly two years on Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers will give right-hander Shohei Ohtani his second start Sunday at home against the Washington Nationals.

Expected to go just one, or possibly two innings, in his Dodgers pitching debut against the San Diego Padres, a rusty Ohtani needed 28 pitches to get through his one inning. He gave up one run on two hits with no walks or strikeouts while facing five batters.

Crushed by injuries to its starting staff, Los Angeles welcomed back left-hander Clayton Kershaw last month, while Ohtani and right-hander Emmet Sheehan have returned this week. Ohtani, 30, has been on the mend from Tommy John revision surgery in September of 2023.

On Monday, Ohtani's fastest pitch was 100.2 mph to Padres No. 2 hitter Luis Arraez. He threw three other fastballs at 99.1 mph.

"I was aiming to sit 95, 96, but the game intensity really allowed me to throw a little harder and I was able to adjust back to be able to throw 95, 96 against (Xander) Bogaerts in the last at-bat," Ohtani said through an interpreter.

In 86 career pitching starts with the Angels from 2018-23, Ohtani went 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 481 2/3 innings. He was voted American League MVP in 2021 and 2023 for his hitting and pitching exploits, then won National League MVP last season with the Dodgers after he hit 54 home runs with 59 stolen bases.

--Field Level Media