Shohei Ohtani is now a year and a half into his Los Angeles Dodgers career without throwing a pitch from an MLB mound. That might finally change soon. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated an Ohtani return could be near while speaking with reporters ahead of Sunday's game against the San Francisco Giants.

Ohtani (elbow) is likely to make his season debut in the team's upcoming four-game series against the Padres beginning Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Ohtani is expected to throw another live batting practice session this week before there is a "high possibility" that he makes his Dodgers pitching debut as an opener versus San Diego according to manager Dave Roberts.