Shohei Ohtani will make his first start of the 2026 season tomorrow, setting the stage for a two-way performance.

The most spectacular act in baseball is ready to unfold: Los Angeles Dodgers two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani will take the mound for his first start of the season tomorrow versus the Cleveland Guardians, launching his new campaign in full two-way mode. Following Roki Sasaki's start today, Yoshinobu Yamamoto will follow tomorrow, making the Dodgers the first team in MLB history to have three consecutive starts by Japanese-born pitchers, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

During most of spring training, the Dodgers were uncertain about how many innings Shohei Ohtani could contribute as a pitcher early in the season. Ohtani was away for much of the time during the Classic, appearing only as a hitter. He maintained his pitching readiness through bullpen sessions and live batting practice, and after Japan's elimination by Venezuela in the quarterfinals, he rejoined the team earlier than expected.

This allowed Ohtani to make two starts for the Dodgers in spring training—one in the Cactus League and one in last week's Freeway Series exhibition. That means Ohtani is essentially on track for a full starter's workload from the very beginning of the season, rather than opening the year as a multi-inning opener.

On March 18 (U.S. time), Ohtani started against the San Francisco Giants, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings; on March 24, he was limited to just over four innings due to high pitch count but still struck out 11 against the Los Angeles Angels. Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani is expected to go about six innings tomorrow, but that is not a strict limit.

"Honestly, with Shohei you have to stay flexible," Roberts said. "If he's pitching efficiently and we want to win, we won't take him out just because of a preset number."

Last year, Ohtani returned to the mound after his second major right elbow surgery, posting a 1‑1 record with a 2.87 ERA. Since his rehab was largely conducted at the MLB level, gradually extending his workload inning by inning, he only started 14 games totaling 47 innings. This is his first full pitching season since 2023, and the Dodgers will closely monitor his workload, but as during last year's recovery, Ohtani needs to maintain clear communication with coaches and trainers.

"There's no exact formula," Roberts said. "Every inning is different, every pitch is different. We'll check in with him regularly, and if he needs an extra day, we're willing to give it."