Shohei Ohtani’s odds as playoff pitcher ‘not zero,’ Dodgers say

ATLANTA — The considered Shohei Ohtani pitching within the playoffs is out of the blue not inconceivable, even when it’d nonetheless be unlikely.

Talking Friday, just a little over an hour after frontline beginning pitcher Tyler Glasnow suffered one other setback in his restoration from elbow tendinitis, Los Angeles Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts left open the potential for Ohtani being an choice on the mound in October, saying it is “not a 0 p.c likelihood.”

Ohtani, who underwent a second restore of his proper ulnar collateral ligament 12 months in the past, has been throwing semiregular bullpen periods and will progress to dealing with hitters earlier than the top of September. The likelier plan had been for Ohtani to close down his throwing program in October, then restart it comparatively early within the offseason to organize for his return as a two-way participant in 2025.

Beneath one other potential situation, although, Ohtani would maintain throwing, then may very well be an choice for the Dodgers within the later postseason rounds in the event that they get there.

“Something’s doable,” mentioned Roberts, who had joined Dodgers entrance workplace members in squashing the thought when it got here up in earlier cases this season. “That is one thing that could be a long-term play. We nonetheless have a number of work to do to get to October and thru October. I hope that is on his thoughts, so far as motivation for his rehab. The percentages of it coming to cross are very slim, however they don’t seem to be zero.”

The consideration — and the pivot of their considering, nonetheless slight — speaks to the uncertainty of the Dodgers’ rotation. Yoshinobu Yamamoto lately pitched in a significant league recreation for the primary time in about three months, placing out eight Chicago Cubs batters in 4 innings. Although the outing was encouraging, the Dodgers nonetheless have loads of questions exterior of Jack Flaherty.

The largest uncertainty, as soon as once more, surrounds Glasnow, who has been out since Aug. 11 and gave the impression to be progressing towards a return. Glasnow was throwing within the Truist Park bullpen to organize for a two- to three-inning simulated recreation in what was anticipated to be his final step earlier than returning to the rotation.

It began off nicely, Roberts mentioned, after which, as Glasnow approached his twenty fifth throw, he felt discomfort round his proper elbow as soon as once more, prompting him to close down the session.

The Dodgers are unsure concerning the subsequent step, however Roberts readily acknowledged that point is shortly working out earlier than the postseason.

“Clearly, it is a setback,” Roberts mentioned. “I do not know what meaning by way of the approaching days. I do know that we’re simply going to type of reassess and see how he feels over the subsequent couple days and see after we can choose up the throwing once more.”

Becoming a member of Glasnow on the IL are Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone, each of whom are pushing to return again but additionally working quick on time. Kershaw has been recognized with a hairline fracture in his left huge toe, triggering ache each time he pushes off the rubber, and hasn’t thrown off a standard mound. Stone, who had been arguably the Dodgers’ finest starter this yr, was shut down with shoulder irritation Sept. 6 and is merely taking part in catch now.

That brings the Dodgers to Ohtani, who famously got here out of the bullpen throughout final yr’s World Baseball Traditional to shut out the championship-clinching recreation for Crew Japan with a strikeout of then-teammate Mike Trout. Roberts mentioned he hasn’t spoken to Ohtani about the potential for pitching within the playoffs however would possibly quickly.

If Ohtani is open to the thought, it may very well be tough for the Dodgers to withstand the urge to make use of him.

“All of us need to really feel very assured that the buildup, that the stress of pitches, that he’ll be capable of deal with the cost-benefit of him doubtlessly doing one thing like that,” Roberts mentioned. “We would all need to be in lockstep, and it is received to make full sense. Proper now, for me, it is simply protecting his head centered on hitting, going by way of his rehab course of. If that scenario presents itself down the street — and, once more, this can be a good distance down the street — then we will have that dialog.”