Dodgers' Pitching Dilemma: Can Ohtani Make a Postseason Impact?
We dive into the Dodgers' pitching challenges and the complex situation surrounding Shohei Ohtani's return to the mound. Can he be the game-changer LA needs?
Video Transcript
The Dodgers, by the way, are getting some of their pitchers back.
They're getting back, Robleski, who's now a bullpen guy.
Edwin Diaz will probably be a low leverage guy until he gets his stuff worked out.
Dodgers have enough back there to figure it out.
But the bigger story is that Shohei Ohtani threw a batting practice session on Saturday, and will need one more.
But this is all very complicated, Tom, because Ohtani, of course, can't go down to the minor leagues and do a rehab assignment because he's in the lineup.
The other thing he can't do is he can't really pitch out of the bullpen because that would mean that he probably can't be in the starting lineup.
So, w- what is Ohtani to the Dodgers, Tom?
I mean, I'm, I'm kind of feeling like he's getting himself ready to pitch a game four in a seven-game series, if it gets to that, with LA, and probably three or four innings in a postseason game.
Is there anything more that he can do beyond that?
Because, Tom, I mean, time's up.
Like, he's got a month to go.
Well- Like, he I Ohtani's not pitching seven innings in a postseason game.
Like, like, time is up on that.
I, I see him as, like, an opener in the postseason.
Yeah.
I, I've had this belief for a while.
I believe O- Do- The Dodgers don't want Ohtani to pitch.
May- maybe next year's a different story, but they don't want him to pitch this year.
Ohtani wants to pitch, and Ohtani is, i- and his people are the one forcing the issue saying, "Okay, like, he's You, you signed him.
He's gonna be a pitcher and a hitter.
Let's get him back on the mound.
Let's get him back throwing, and let's get him back out there for games."
I don't think this is what the Dodgers ideally want to do, and there's no, there's no reasonable way to ramp him up in five weeks to get him ready to go six or seven innings.
To your point, can they get him out there for two or three?
Sure, but beyond that, I would be very, very hesitant to do so if I was Dave Roberts and that pitching staff.
