The Los Angeles Dodgers face a critical decision regarding Shohei Ohtani's dual role as pitcher and hitter. With Ohtani recently scratched from a tentatively scheduled one-inning pitching appearance, and dealing with a throbbing left knee and aching right biceps, the time has come for him to cease pitching for the remainder of the season. This move would allow Ohtani to focus entirely on his offensive contributions, which are crucial for the Dodgers' World Series aspirations.
Manager Dave Roberts has acknowledged the aggressive timeline for Ohtani to build back up as a full-fledged starting pitcher for a potential postseason run. However, with the Dodgers having acquired Tarik Skubal and retaining Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, the team possesses a championship-caliber rotation even without Ohtani on the mound. The greater concern for the Dodgers appears to be their offense. "I gotta think about what I can do to spur this offense," Roberts told reporters. "I believe in them. But I don’t know the answer, as far as making changes and things like that, whether it’s lineup construction."
Ohtani's value offensively is undeniably important, and the Dodgers cannot afford to compromise it. "So, if throwing potentially cuts into that, that’s not worth the squeeze," Roberts stated. His offensive struggles have coincided with his increased focus on pitching. Between his first bullpen session in three weeks on August 14 and his last pitching start, Ohtani batted .214 with three home runs in 14 games. In the 31 games prior to that period, he hit .301 with nine home runs.
Furthermore, Ohtani himself has acknowledged that knee issues have limited his speed on the basepaths, impacting his ability to gauge extra-base hits. The potential for him to pitch an inning or two as an opener in the postseason may not outweigh the risk to his offensive production. While Ohtani has a history of defying expectations to succeed as a two-way player, this situation calls for a pragmatic approach to maximize his contribution to the Dodgers in the current season. Prioritizing his health and offensive capabilities could be the key to the team's success in October.