Even as the Dodgers are getting back Shohei Ohtani on the mound, the banged-up Los Angeles pitching staff suffered another blow. The Dodgers announced Ohtani will start on Monday night against the Padres, making his first appearance on an MLB mound since August 23, 2023, and marking the first time hes pitched since signing a ma sive contract with Los Angeles during the winter of that same year. Earlier on Sunday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had teased the idea that Ohtani could potentially return to the mound in the near future, before the team announced the reigning NL MVPs mound return after a 5-4 win over the Giants on Sunday Dodgers Shohei Ohtani runs toward the dugout before a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in Los Angeles, Sunday, June 15, 2025. AP However, he would only be getting a few innings on the mound, but Roberts added that anything that Ohtani could give the club would be additive. Ohtani has been recovering from elbow surgery that he Nick Wittgren Jersey underwent in 2023. But even as Roberts shared that positive piece of news, the Dodgers were still dealing with another situation with their pitching staff. He said the team is having to plan on life without Roki Sasaki for as far as this year. Explore More The Japanese pitcher has been out since May 9 and has been working his way back from a shoulder impingement. Sasaki has been not comfortable and Roberts said that he is not feeling that he can ramp it up. I dont know if its pain its more of a question for Roki, to be quite honest with you, Roberts said, . As far as kind of the sensation, I dont its discomfort. I dont think its pain. Its tightne s. Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning at Chase Field in May, Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Getty Images Sasaki is in his first season in the majors after signing a deal to join the Dodgers and come over from Japan. Hes gone 1-1 with a 4.72 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 24 strikeouts. The Dodgers, who also have starters Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow on the IL, came into play Sunday night with a two-game lead over the Giants in the NL West. Hunter Harvey Jersey