Ohtani's 26-pitch bullpen session a 'positive'

PHILADELPHIA -- Shohei Ohtani threw a 26-pitch bullpen league Saturday earlier the Los Angeles Dodgers' crippled against the Philadelphia Phillies, different measurement toward his mound return.

Recovering from close elbow country connected Sept. 19, 2023, the two-way prima threw his 2nd bullpen league since resuming his pitching ramp up. He paused aft his mound league connected Feb. 25 to hole for opening time arsenic a hitter, past threw a bullpen connected March 29.

He incorporated splitters connected Saturday, a league that Dodgers manager Dave Roberts labeled arsenic "positive."

"It's a week, but past there's besides the 1 successful between, wherever helium touches the mound connected a Thursday," Roberts said. "And I deliberation it's conscionable much trying to support him connected a akin seven-day program, and what the docket would look (like) going out, and physique from there."

When Ohtani is acceptable for crippled pitching, the Dodgers program to usage a six-man rotation.

A three-time MVP and four-time All-Star, Ohtani is 38-19 with a 3.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts successful 481 2/3 innings arsenic a pitcher.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.