Dodgers weigh Shohei Ohtani's pitching role as postseason approaches
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani's hitting is critical, and the team must decide whether to keep him on the mound despite lingering injuries.
Shohei Ohtani showed visible discomfort during his last at-bat on Wednesday, shaking his right arm after a strikeout in the 10th inning. The next day he was held out of the lineup, listed as day-to-day, with the Dodgers hoping a brief rest will ease his lingering knee and biceps soreness.
The team has not used Ohtani as a pitcher since early July, and a recent bullpen session was cut short because of the same issues. With the postseason less than a month away, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the club must decide whether to preserve Ohtani’s value as a hitter or risk further injury by allowing him to pitch.
"His value offensively is hugely important, and so we can't compromise that in any fashion," Roberts told reporters.
Los Angeles possesses a strong rotation, featuring Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, but its offense has struggled, ranking near the bottom of the league in OPS and runs per game since July. Roberts emphasized that the team cannot afford to sacrifice Ohtani’s bat.
Statistical analysis shows mixed results on whether pitching affects Ohtani’s hitting. In 2023, his offensive numbers were higher on days he started, while this season his slash lines have been modest across different rest days. Roberts acknowledged that any lingering injury could “bleed” into his hitting performance.
"If you're not a hundred percent, there's possibly some bleed-in to the performance offensively," he said.
Ohtani’s baserunning has also declined since taking on pitching duties, with only 16 steal attempts in the past five months. While a pause in pitching might restore some speed, the postseason typically sees fewer stolen-base attempts.
The Dodgers are keeping Ohtani as a potential pitching option for the playoffs, noting that even limited innings could relieve pressure on the bullpen. Roberts said the decision will ultimately depend on Ohtani’s own assessment of his health.
"It's his decision, honestly. If he feels like he's capable, then we'll run the play out until it doesn't make any sense," Roberts added.