The Dodgers may be sitting atop their division, but their current 23rd rank in team ERA (4.30) tells a far more complicated story. A once-dominant pitching staff now looks beleaguered, inconsistent, and in desperate need of reinforcement. And yet, amid the turbulence, one bright spot continues to shine: Shohei Ohtani. Though widely celebrated for his two-way brilliance, Ohtani’s value to the Dodgers now extends beyond his home run power and marketability. He’s emerging as a potential savior for a battered rotation.
But with great potential comes great caution. The Dodgers know that transforming Ohtani into a full-fledged starter again is not a process to be rushed.
Well, after a humbling sweep by the Brewers, time is not on L.A.’s side. With a new series against the Twins looming, manager Dave Roberts is shifting focus. And the silver lining? Ohtani is set to take the mound on Monday, though under a meticulously crafted plan designed to manage his workload and protect his long-term health. So, while the Dodgers’ season hinges on how delicately they handle their most extraordinary weapon, Roberts shared his strategy with Ohtani.
So, what is Roberts expecting from Ohtani on Monday?
“Three innings. The goal is to go three innings, and then we’ve got Dustin May to take down as much of the game as we need behind him,” Roberts answered before going against the Twins.
So yeah, you heard that right. A cool 3 innings are also expected from Ohtani as a starter on Monday. Rest, things will be taken care of by May till the bullpen kicks in. If you remember, Ohtani last pitched against the Giants for 3 innings only, where he gave up one hit and struck out four. Last time, it was on Ben Casparius and Emmet Sheehan to support Ohtani, and this time, it is on May.
“The plan is to build him up to four innings, then repeat that,” Roberts said a day before.
Well, it’s clear now that Shohei Ohtani is still miles away from being a full-blown starter who can pitch up to 5-6 innings. Rather, the Dodgers are slowly building him to get to the pole. So far, Ohtani has made 5 starts this year and pitched 9 innings. And that shows that he is steadily increasing his pitching load.
It’s a small adjustment by the Dodgers to let Ohtani continue his hot form at the batter’s box, as well.
Ohtani hit a home run in the third game against the Brewers, making his 34th this year. Currently, he is hitting .275, and certainly it is too risky for the Dodgers to let Ohtani do a full-fledged starter role.
Strategy for Shohei Ohtani included a change in the leadoff
The last game against the Brewers witnessed Shohei Ohtani’s HR and Clayton Kershaw’s outburst in the dugout, but there’s one more change that caught the limelight. Mookie Betts played as the leadoff hitter in place of Ohtani!
Since Betts went down with a fractured right hand last season, Ohtani has mostly held down the leadoff spot. That’s 97 out of 100 games this year, including Sunday. And guess what, the Dodgers’ recent lineup shuffle might’ve paid off. Betts, bumped back into the leadoff role, sparked a three-run inning with a single against the Brewers.
Then Ohtani followed up with a two-run blast to left, stretching the lead. Hence, with that move, Roberts might’ve solved two problems at once. First, helping Betts snap out of his slump by getting him focused on just getting on base, and second, easing some of the leadoff pressure off Ohtani.
“I think just trying to get good at-bats will set the table for Shohei and the guys.” Roberts’ prediction seemed to have paid off.
So, will this lineup continue?
Well, as per Roberts, Betts will play the leadoff hitter at least till Max Muncy is back from the Injured List. Hence, for now, we would see Ohtani hitting as No. 2 in the lineup. And to witness Ohtani pitching till the sixth, fans might need to wait till the postseason.
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