What happened: Shohei Ohtani is rebuilding his mound workload after left knee irritation and a right biceps issue disrupted his pitching schedule. The opener plan would bring him back in shorter outings than a conventional start.

Why it matters: A limited assignment would require other pitchers to It could also allow his pitching workload to expand gradually while he continues hitting.

What to watch: His next throwing session and eventual return date will show how quickly his workload can increase.