Saturday’s showdown won’t be about sentiment. It will be about dominance, drama, and maybe a little bit of destiny under Dodger Blue. It’s the 5th of July—Shohei Ohtani’s birthday, but the Dodgers aren’t handing out cake; they’re handing the ball to the Japanese ace, with manager Dave Roberts playing maestro and the Houston Astros waiting like party crashers.
Ohtani’s return to the mound may be limited, but it has been electric. In just four innings, he owns a 2.25 ERA with three strikeouts and a WHIP below 1.00. Though he’s working short outings, his velocity, command, and deception have all looked sharper than expected. Now, the Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has revealed when Ohtani is going to have his next start as a pitcher.
Turns out it’s on Saturday against the Astros. Yes, on his birthday. While others light candles on birthdays, Ohtani lights up radar guns—and maybe the Astros’ box score too. If you’re in Houston, you should turn up. Because nothing burns hotter than birthday heat.
“Dave Roberts said the plan is to have Shohei Ohtani pitch two innings again tomorrow,” the MLB reporter Jack Harris posted on X on Friday. Well, the Astros better be careful, to say the least.
Dave Roberts said the plan is to have Shohei Ohtani pitch two innings again tomorrow
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) July 4, 2025
Against the Astros, history hasn’t always favored Ohtani, but he’s had his flashes of dominance. In 13 career starts, he’s posted a 4.01 ERA with 88 strikeouts over 67.1 innings. He’s also held Houston to just six home runs. While his 3–6 record isn’t ideal, the strikeout rate suggests he can still overpower them.
Houston’s bats will need to adjust quickly, especially to Ohtani’s tight fastball-slider mix early on. With Valdez likely going deep, the Japanese would look to leave a heavy mark with his two-inning burst. And if he sets the tone, Houston may find itself swinging from behind all night.
But hey, while Ohtani is getting back to his pitching best, what’s the status of the other injured Dodgers pitchers?
The Dodgers’ pitchers are coming back
The Dodgers aren’t just trying to win—they’re trying to assemble the Avengers before October. Well, when Shohei Ohtani is warming up for a birthday start and Tyler Glasnow is circling a return, all you need to do is buckle up. LA’s rotation isn’t limping anymore—it’s reloading.
Opposing hitters, skip the cake. The arms are coming. And they aren’t bringing party favors.
Glasnow’s journey back to the Dodgers’ rotation is nearing its final checkpoint. Out since April 28 with right shoulder inflammation, he’s made three rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. His latest outing was the best: 4.1 innings, six hits, three runs, eight strikeouts, and one walk. With his pitch count climbing near 80, Glasnow looks ready for reactivation very soon.
The road back wasn’t flawless, but it showed enough flashes of vintage Glasnow dominance. His rehab began June 22 with two hitless innings, but control issues led to three walks. A rocky second outing saw him allow five runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings. Still, the Dodgers wanted one strong appearance, and he just gave it to them.
Glasnow’s 2025 season has been brief but intriguing: 18 innings, 4.50 ERA, 1.28 WHIP. He’s struck out 29.9% of batters while walking 14.3%, flashing elite stuff between limits. If activated, he’ll likely return July 11 vs. Milwaukee or during the Giants series. With him, the Dodgers rotation doesn’t just improve—it begins to look terrifyingly complete.
The Dodgers didn’t come this far to patch holes—they came to build a fortress. With Ohtani about to pitch and Glasnow poised to return, the cavalry is suiting up. This rotation now doesn’t need hope; it needs a schedule and a target. And if you’re on that schedule, good luck!
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