LOS ANGELES — Dodgers manager Dave Roberts provided some encouraging news, if only a glimmer of it, regarding Shohei Ohtani’s ability to resume pitching.
“He’s playing catch, potentially going to throw a bullpen soon,” Roberts told the media before the Dodgers opened their four-game homestand with the Milwaukee Brewers Thursday, Aug. 13.
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Though the Dodgers have indicated they expect Ohtani to pitch again this season, the team has offered no timeline. It would be most critical to get him back when the playoffs start.
Ohtani hasn’t pitched since July 3 because of inflammation in his left knee. He’d been brilliant on the mound until the knee issue surfaced.
1 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
Guess what? The Dodgers don’t have MLB’s highest payroll!
Due to the team’s heavy use use of deferred contracts, MLB’s Labor Relations Department’s present-day salary calculations has the Mets at No. 1.
(Payrolls entering opening day)
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
1 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
Guess what? The Dodgers don’t have MLB’s highest payroll!
Due to the team’s heavy use use of deferred contracts, MLB’s Labor Relations Department’s present-day salary calculations has the Mets at No. 1.
(Payrolls entering opening day)
(Brad Penner, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
2 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
30) Cleveland Guardians — $69,984,029
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
3 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
29) Miami Marlins — $79,429,030
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
4 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
28) Chicago White Sox — $83,892,150
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
27) Washington Nationals — $87,955,033
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
6 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
26) Tampa Bay Rays — $89,632,420
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
7 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
25) Athletics — $91,849,688
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
8 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
24) Minnesota Twins — $96,726,784
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
9 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
23) St. Louis Cardinals — $98,115,902
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
10 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
22) Pittsburgh Pirates — $102,058,886
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
11 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
21) Colorado Rockies — $118,302,854
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
12 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
20) Cincinnati Reds — $124,308,099
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
13 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
19) Milwaukee Brewers — $125,467,605
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
14 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
18) Kansas City Royals — $141,244,816
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
15 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
17) Seattle Mariners — $160,726,794
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
16 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
16) Baltimore Orioles — $170,369,743
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
17 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
15) Los Angeles Angels — $179,002,696
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
14) Arizona Diamondbacks — $183,460,266
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
19 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
13) Texas Rangers — $183,539,230
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
20 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
12) Boston Red Sox — $198,883,374
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
21 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
11) San Francisco Giants — $200,800,003
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
22 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
10) Detroit Tigers — $209,415,401
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
23 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
9) Chicago Cubs — $220,693,350
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
24 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
8) San Diego Padres — $224,833,896
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
25 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
7) Houston Astros — $246,519,331
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
6) Atlanta Braves — $252,141,372
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
27 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
5) Toronto Blue Jays — $278,989,858
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
28 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
4) Philadelphia Phillies — $283,686,918
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
29 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
3) New York Yankees — $301,064,810
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
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MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
2) Los Angeles Dodgers — $322,385,057
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
31 / 31
MLB team payroll rankings from lowest to highest in 2026
1) New York Mets — $357,626,125
(Imagn Images via Reuters Connect)
The knee problem hasn’t kept Ohtani out of the lineup as the team’s designated hitter. He leads the Dodgers with 26 home runs, a slugging percentage of .544 and an on-base percentage of .393.
Roberts indicated he expects Ohtani to play all four games against the Brewers and will evaluate him before the Dodgers start a three-game series at Colorado Aug. 17.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Shohei Ohtani pitch soon? Dave Roberts provides update on Dodgers star
