The Los Angeles Dodgers are postseason-bound for the twelfth consecutive season. They’ll play in October as soon as once more, and this time, they may look to complete the job.
L.A. has fallen brief each single time since reaching the mountain prime in 2020. Because of the addition of the basketball unicorn, Shohei Ohtani, issues ought to be totally different this season. Ohtani is now a Dodger and can play for the primary time in his profession in October. Whereas he has no expertise in October, his play will decide whether or not or not L.A. will win all of it.
Ohtani is about to play in his first postseason recreation quickly; nevertheless, we doubtless gained’t see his full arsenal on show. The 30-year-old famous person doubtless gained’t pitch in October, though there’s some chatter that he could.
It is dependent upon who you ask. For those who ask USA At this time baseball columnist Bob Nightengale, as did our very personal Doug McKain, he says there’s ‘no likelihood’ Ohtani pitches.
“No likelihood. Simply doesn’t make sense. He simply had surgical procedure final September. You’re speaking 12 months. An excessive amount of cash is invested in him to take that threat.
Not solely did Nightengale say Ohtani was not going to pitch, however he additionally added that it wouldn’t work logistically.
“And apart from, I’m not fairly positive how that may work. Say you wish to carry him right into a save state of affairs. Nicely, what if his flip at-bat is within the backside of the eighth inning? Is he going to go to the mound with none warmup? What if he’s warming up throughout his flip at-bat? He’d be known as out on a delay, three strikes. I don’t know the way that may work logistically.”
Nightengale is on to one thing, and these can be actual issues if L.A. decides to place him on the mound. Nonetheless, Ohtani has defied the chances earlier than, and if L.A. looks like he’s prepared, they may determine it out.
The Japanese sensation hasn’t pitched since Sept. 2023 after present process elbow surgical procedure. When wholesome, there aren’t many pitchers higher than Ohatni on the mound. He has a profession of three.01 ERA and 608 strikeouts in 86 profession video games.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman shut down the potential for Ohtani pitching for the membership through the postseason on Thursday.
“We aren’t even serious about that proper now,” Friedman mentioned. “Once more, that is like January for him. He’s simply barely a yr out from Tommy John.”
L.A. is operating out of arms; if they’ll’t discover a solution, Ohtani could come and save the day.
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