A thumbs-up and 30 pitches: Ohtani’s latest step back toward the Dodgers’ mound

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani faced teammate Will Smith in live batting practice on Saturday, but there’s no definitive timeline for the two-way superstar to return to pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Wearing long sleeves, Ohtani threw 30 pitches under a blazing sun in 93-degree (34 Celsius) heat and ended the session by giving a thumbs-up. Among those looking on were pitching coach Mark Prior and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, fellow MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and some of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“We’re getting there,” manager Dave Roberts said afterward. “If it were up to Shohei, he’d be in a game in a few days.” Ohtani hasn’t pitched in a game since July 3 because of lingering soreness in his left knee, which is his landing leg while pitching. “I’d like to think the knee thing is behind us,” Roberts said.

Ohtani is likely to throw another live session next week. Once he returns to the rotation, Roberts said he’ll be limited to one, two or three innings as part of a slow buildup. “The lives are good because you’re actually facing hitters and you can see the mechanics and how they play,” the manager said.

The goal is for Ohtani to be able to make full-length starts once the Dodgers begin their quest for a third consecutive World Series championship in October. “I could sit here and say, ‘Yeah, six innings when we start the postseason,’” Roberts said, “but he’s still got to do the work and get there, and he’s got to pass some tests and markers. That’s probably the goal, but we still got a ways to get there.” Meanwhile, Tyler Glasnow will rejoin the rotation and is expected to start Tuesday in Atlanta.

It’ll be the right-hander’s first start since May 6, before he was sidelined with lower back spasms and went on the 60-day IL. Glasnow will rejoin a rotation of Tarik Skubal, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki. Roberts said Justin Wrobleski is expected to move to the bullpen when the injured starters return.

Closer Edwin Díaz played catch Friday while on the 15-day IL with neck inflammation. He’s using the time to rest mechanically after struggling with injuries in his first season with the team. Roberts indicated Díaz won’t be rushed back into the closer’s role.