Shohei Ohtani will return to the mound with the Dodgers on Monday against the Rockies

Los Angeles. — The Los Angeles Dodgers confirmed that the star Japanese player Shohei Ohtani will resume his duties as a starting pitcher next Monday against the Colorado Rockies at Dodger Stadium. You may be interested in: Paul Skenes strengthens his Cy Young candidacy after blanking the Dodgers Ohtani was scratched at the last minute from starting Wednesday’s game in Pittsburgh due to chest congestion. Even so, he remained in the lineup as the leadoff hitter and designated hitter. Manager Dave Roberts explained that, given the player’s physical condition, the coaching staff preferred not to push him from the mound. “When you’re sick and potentially dehydrated, we felt that the wear and tear of pitching wasn’t worth it,” the manager said. The last Ohtani start was on August 27, when he earned his first win as a Dodgers pitcher by working five innings against the Cincinnati Reds. On that occasion, he threw 87 pitches, his highest number of the season, and struck out nine batters. While recovering, Ohtani continued to make his mark with the bat. In Tuesday’s loss to the Pirates, he hit his 100th home run wearing the Dodgers uniform, a 120 mph hit that became the most powerful of his career in the Major Leagues and the sixth strongest recorded since Statcast began measuring in 2015. The flu-like state has not only affected Ohtani. Roberts revealed that other team players, including Max Muncy —who is in the process of rehabilitation for a right oblique strain—, have dealt with similar symptoms. Ohtani’s return to the mound represents an injection of optimism for the Dodgers in the decisive stretch of the season, where each start by the Japanese star is key to reinforcing the Los Angeles rotation.