Roberts: Ohtani will pitch at least 3-4 innings per start to begin season

The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to ease two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani into his role as a starting pitcher.

Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Ohtani's expected to pitch at least three-to-four innings per start to open the new campaign, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

The four-time MVP made his 2025 pitching debut in mid-June after undergoing his second elbow surgery in September 2023.

Ohtani posted a 2.87 ERA with 1.90 FIP and 62 strikeouts across 47 innings (14 starts) during a slow build-up in the regular season. The 31-year-old logged another 20 1/3 innings with a 4.43 ERA and 28 strikeouts en route to helping Los Angeles win a second straight World Series.

Roberts also announced Monday that World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto will toe the rubber on Opening Day for a second straight year.

The Dodgers start the season at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks on March 26.