Dave Roberts reveals blueprint for Shohei Ohtani’s first Dodgers start

While the baseball world is buzzing to see Shohei Ohtani back on the mound, the Los Angeles Dodgers are sticking to a calculated script. Manager Dave Roberts Ohtani’s highly anticipated first start of the 2026 season will come at Dodger Stadium against the Cleveland Guardians on March 31.

Roberts has already laid out the blueprint for the two-way superstar’s season debut. “Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch more than seven innings in his first start,” Roberts said, cited by Dodgers Nation.

For the Guardians, the challenge remains daunting; they’ll spend the next week prepping for a triple-digit heater that hasn’t lost any of its bite during the layoff.

Despite the fans’ eagerness to see Ohtani “toe the rubber” on Day 1, the assignment naturally falls to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the reigning World Series MVP. However, Ohtani won’t be idle; he’ll be anchored at the top of the lineup doing what he does best, punishing baseballs.

While Ohtani looks locked in, Roberts recently addressed the spring struggles of fellow countryman Roki Sasaki, noting the young right-hander is still finding his rhythm ahead of the regular season.

Ohtani’s projections: Another MVP-caliber campaign?

Ohtani enters the 2026 season looking to shake off a bittersweet World Baseball Classic. While Japan’s run ended in a stunning quarterfinal exit at the hands of eventual champion Venezuela, Ohtani’s individual performance was nothing short of legendary.

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He posted a .462 average and a 1.231 OPS, tied for the tournament lead with three home runs.The momentum is expected to carry into the MLB regular season.

According to Baseball Reference projections, Ohtani is slated for a massive 2026:

Spring training: Ohtani’s arm is back

If his spring training performance is any indication, Ohtani’s pitching is back to elite form. In two spring starts spanning 8.1 innings, he flashed a 3.24 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.

Most impressively, he fanned 15 batters and touched 99.9 MPH on the radar gun. For a Dodgers team eyeing a three-peat, those numbers are the ultimate “good omen.”