Facing a rash of injuries to its pitching staff, baseball’s richest team is banking on the 30-year-old Japanese dual threat to resume his role as starting pitcher—and fast.

Manager Dave Roberts stresses how much work the superstar is doing after he threw 29 pitches in a two-inning, live batting practice session Saturday.

Shohei Ohtani checked off another step Saturday as he works toward making his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers.