Shohei Ohtani could take the mound within a week

Since early July, Shohei Ohtani has been unable to pitch in a Major League game due to health issues.

For the past few weeks, we've seen him pitch here and there, but it's unclear exactly where that will lead.

The Dodgers seem fairly confident that he'll pitch again this season, but…

Now, however, The Athletic has provided more details on the situation. How? By suggesting that the pitcher could take the mound within a week, in Detroit.

According to sources cited by Katie Woo and Fabian Ardaya, the Dodgers are considering having Ohtani pitch one inning on Sunday, when the team will be looking for a starting pitcher.

Because yes, it'll be just like last year: Ohtani will only be able to pitch one inning at a time at first, since he can't go pitch in the minors to get his arm back in shape.

Will we finally get to see Ohtani pitch again? It will depend on how he feels over the next few days, when he'll be throwing from the bullpen in Atlanta.

But if he returns to pitch on a Major League mound, he'll help his team and boost his chances of winning a fifth career MVP award.

The Japanese star could therefore, by necessity, steal the spotlight from Tarik Skubal next weekend in Detroit.

After all, that's supposed to be the big story at Tiger Stadium.

It's worth noting that Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will pitch from Tuesday through Thursday in Atlanta. Blake Snell and Tarik Skubal will be available to start the first two games in Michigan.

Shohei Ohtani could pitch on Sunday, and Eric Lauer, in any case, has moved to the bullpen. He'll back up Glasnow, Sasaki, Ohtani, and company if they don't go as deep into the game.

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