The Los Angeles Dodgers are considering using star Shohei Ohtani in a different capacity this postseason.
Per ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that the organization has talked about bringing Ohtani out of the bullpen rather than using him as a starting pitcher.
“I know that we are going to be talking about it,” Roberts said. “I think the one thing you can say, though, is that we use him once every seven days, eight days, nine days — [11] days in between his last start — so to think that now it’s feasible for a guy that’s just coming off what he’s done last year, or didn’t do last year, to then now put him in a role that’s very, very unique — because he’s a very methodical, disciplined, routine-driven person. The pen is the complete opposite, right? You potentially could be taking on risk, and we’ve come this far, certainly with the kid gloves and managing.”
Ohtani returned to the mound in June for the first time since August 2023. He’s made 13 appearances, though he hasn’t gone more than five innings. On Tuesday, he pitched five hitless innings against the Philadelphia Phillies but was pulled after 68 pitches.
Should the Dodgers move Ohtani to the bullpen, he expressed openness to playing in the outfield so he can remain in the game after pitching in relief.