The absence of Shohei Ohtani from the pitcher's mound has created significant strain on the Los Angeles Dodgers' bullpen, forcing manager Dave Roberts to manage a smaller relief corps and leading to overworked pitchers.
Ohtani, who last pitched on July 3, is currently progressing through mound sessions with the hope of returning to the rotation. "Provided that Shohei Ohtani doesn’t experience any setbacks from his 34-pitch mound session on Friday, he will throw another bullpen session or two, after which will face hitters a couple of times in simulated games," Roberts said. "Then, I would see him in a major league game."
His potential return to pitching is a welcome development for a team grappling with the consequences of his absence. Major League Baseball's roster rules provide a unique advantage when a player like Ohtani is classified as a two-way player. He does not count against the team's maximum number of pitchers. This allows teams to carry an additional pitcher, typically resulting in a six-man starting rotation and an eight-man bullpen.
When Ohtani is able to pitch, the Dodgers can carry 13 pitchers in addition to him, influencing roster construction and player performance. For much of the season, this setup enabled the Dodgers to maintain a robust pitching staff. The extra day between starts for their pitchers, due to the larger rotation, also helped them pitch deeper into games, thereby reducing the workload on the bullpen.
However, Ohtani's inability to pitch has forced the Dodgers to reduce their active roster from eight to seven relievers. This reduction has intensified the workload on the remaining bullpen members. "All of our relievers are overworked right now," Roberts stated.
The team has faced difficult decisions, having to choose between carrying a sixth starter or an eighth reliever when Ohtani cannot pitch. Initially, the Dodgers opted for a five-man rotation, but returned to a six-man system with Blake Snell's return from the injured list. This situation is particularly challenging during extended stretches of games, such as the Dodgers' current run of 13 games in 13 days, with only a seven-man bullpen.
Roberts acknowledged the difficulty of navigating these roster constraints. "It’s tough to navigate. We have a seven-man pen in the middle of 13 in a row."
Looking ahead to the postseason, active rosters will be limited to 26 players, including a maximum of 13 pitchers. Even if Ohtani returns as an opener, pitching only an inning or two per game, it would still alleviate some pressure on the bullpen. This deliberate pace in his return is intended to gradually build his arm strength. His ability to pitch, even in a limited capacity, is crucial for the Dodgers' strategy, potentially allowing other pitchers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki to maintain their preferred pitching schedules, which often involve pitching once every six or seven days.