Shohei Ohtani moves a step closer to returning to the mound and other Dodgers pitchers on the IL could return soon.

As Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani gets closer to facing live hitters off a mound, the question that followed him every year in Anaheim has resurfaced in Los Angeles: Should he pitch at all? Former Colorado Rockies outfielder and current broadcaster Ryan Spilborghs was the latest to raise the question on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM Wednesday.

On Saturday, Ohtani took the next step forward in his pitching rehab, throwing around 35 four-seam fastballs, two-seamers (aka sinkers) and splitters. He also took a break about halfway through to simulate being down in between two innings.