how many innings will ohtani pitch

Shohei Ohtani's pitching innings in the 2025 MLB season with the Los Angeles Dodgers are being carefully managed due to his return from major elbow surgery and his dual role as both pitcher and hitter. The Dodgers have limited Ohtani's pitching to a maximum of about 5 innings per outing to prioritize his health and avoid unnecessary risks. Recent reports indicate that Ohtani has been pitching between 1 to 3 innings per start, with plans to gradually increase his innings. For example, in early July 2025, Ohtani was pitching two innings per start, then moving to three innings, and the goal was to extend that to four innings eventually. However, the team is cautious, and the 5-inning limit is expected to remain in place for the season. Manager Dave Roberts has emphasized that 5 innings is sufficient for managing Ohtani's workload considering he also plays daily as a hitter. In his recent outings, Ohtani pitched two innings against the Houston Astros and was planned for three innings in a start against the Minnesota Twins, with a future target of four innings and potentially full-length starts around mid-August, but the strict 5-inning cap remains. So, as of the latest updates, Ohtani will likely pitch no more than 5 innings per game this season, with most individual starts being between two and four innings as part of a cautious build-up plan.