Dodgers’ Dave Roberts Doesn’t Shoot Down Speculation About Shohei Ohtani Pitching in October

The main argument against Shohei Ohtani winning the National League MVP award as a full-time designated hitter is that he does not contribute defensively.

That could change in October.

According to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Ohtani could make his pitching debut in a Dodgers uniform in the postseason.  

“I think that you should always leave some margin back in the door for any possibility. If things line up and there’s a need and the game, his body, everything is telling us that it makes sense in that situation, great,” Roberts said when asked about Ohtani pitching in the postseason. “It would be storybook.”

Roberts is right. If Ohtani becomes the first player in MLB history to reach 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, then takes the mound for the first time in more than a year in the postseason, it would be legendary. He is already the frontrunner for the NL MVP. But, pitching would eliminate any doubts about the legitimacy of Ohtani as the NL MVP. 

“Shohei is on board with continuing his rehab process, and I wouldn’t put it past him to have an eye on that,” Roberts said to MLB Network. 

Ohtani has remained off the mound for the entire 2024 season and has not pitched since Aug. 23, 2023.  He underwent his second elbow surgery last September to repair a torn UCL. 

Across five seasons of pitching, Ohtani posts a 3.01 career ERA while tallying 608 strikeouts and 173 walks in 86 starts. Despite not being able to pitch for a portion of last season, Ohtani was still the Angels’ fourth most-used pitcher (23 starts) and just five starts behind team-leaders Patrick Sandoval and Reid Detmers.

The addition of Ohtani would not only be legendary but beneficial for the injury-plagued Dodgers rotation. With Gavin Stone’s injury, no remaining Dodgers starters have avoided spending time on the injured list this season.

Considering Ohtani’s impressive track record, watching him take the mound in the postseason would not be surprising.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

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