Shohei Ohtani is scheduled to make a significant return to the mound on Wednesday afternoon when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the St. Louis Cardinals in their series finale. This comes a week after the Dodgers’ two-way star exited early during his previous pitching start due to a concerning hip cramp.

Ohtani had been expected to pitch four innings in his seventh start of the season last Wednesday, but left the game after throwing just over three innings while struggling with control issues. Despite remaining in the lineup as the designated hitter in that game against Cincinnati, he was later diagnosed with a hip cramp that raised questions about his health on a humid evening in Los Angeles.

Pitching Performance and Gradual Workload Increase Post-Surgery

In the outing against Cincinnati, Ohtani allowed two runs and five hits, walked two batters, and struck out four, during a 5-2 Dodgers loss. The team plans to have him pitch four innings again on Wednesday as they cautiously increase his workload. This gradual approach follows Ohtani’s Tommy John revision surgery in 2023, emphasizing the team’s care in managing his recovery.

Earlier in the 2023 season, Ohtani faced the Cardinals once, surrendering four runs on five hits, including two home runs, but he struck out 13 batters during that game. His return to two-way player status has been challenging, as reflected in his .231 batting average since July. However, Ohtani has also demonstrated power and consistency with nine home runs and an .846 OPS during this period, recently extending his hitting streak to five games with a leadoff double.

Dodgers’ Offensive Surge Bolsters Team Momentum

The Dodgers built positive momentum launching into Wednesday’s game with a strong offensive performance on Tuesday, recording 17 hits in a 12-6 win over the Cardinals. Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez dominated at the plate, each hitting two home runs and driving in four runs, while combining for seven hits in total.

Muncy’s impressive showing followed his return from a knee injury that sidelined him for a month, providing a significant boost for the Dodgers lineup.

“Yeah, I was getting to the pitches at the top of the zone,”

Muncy said.

“You guys have heard me say this before, as long as I’m doing that, I feel like my swing is in a really good spot. The pitches I was able to hit tonight, I felt really good about.”

—Max Muncy, Dodgers First Baseman

Adding to the positive vibes, Mookie Betts broke out of a prolonged slump with three hits after going 0-for-22 in his previous at-bats.

“It’s good to get the results, but it’s one game,”

Betts said.

“Every time we talk about this, I go 0-for-20 after. So we’ll see about tomorrow.”

—Mookie Betts, Dodgers Outfielder

Cardinals Turn to Liberatore for Game Against Dodgers

The Cardinals will counter with left-hander Matthew Liberatore, who has a 6-9 record and a 3.96 ERA this season. He has been pitching steadily well recently, allowing two or fewer earned runs in six of his last seven starts. Despite a 4-1 loss to the San Diego Padres on Friday where Liberatore gave up four runs, he had kept opponents largely in check.

This Wednesday marks Liberatore’s first career start against the Dodgers. Although he has six prior relief appearances versus Los Angeles, those outings produced a high 7.27 ERA, and he has not recorded a decision against the Dodgers.

Nolan Gorman contributed with his 10th home run of the season on Tuesday, which was the first since his recall last Friday following Nolan Arenado‘s placement on the injured list. Willson Contreras also hit his 16th homer in the same game.

JoJo Romero Draws Motivation From Dodgers Stadium Return

Reliever JoJo Romero, a native of the Los Angeles area, earned his sixth career save on Friday and will be looking to make an impact Wednesday as well. His emotional connection to pitching in Dodger Stadium added a personal highlight to his recent success.

“Immediately coming back here, I’m flooded with emotions of growing up,”

Romero shared, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“As kids, we’re in the backyard and we’re simulating it … ninth inning. And being able to close a game at Dodger Stadium, it brought back a lot of nostalgia.”

—JoJo Romero, Cardinals Relief Pitcher

Looking Ahead: Ohtani’s Return Could Influence Dodgers’ Title Aspirations

Shohei Ohtani’s planned return to the mound represents a critical moment for the Dodgers as they gradually reintegrate their star after a major surgery setback. His ability to contribute as both a pitcher and batter remains pivotal for the team’s success this season. With the Dodgers riding strong offensive form and important players like Muncy back from injury, Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals will test their capacity to sustain momentum and compete at the highest level.

The outcome of this series finale could shape the Dodgers’ confidence going forward, especially as Ohtani’s recovery continues to progress and the team looks ahead to the challenges of the postseason.