The Los Angeles Dodgers are reeling, but they are starting to gain clarity with their starting-pitching rotation.
Manager Dave Roberts announced Los Angeles would go with a six-man starting rotation to accommodate Shohei Ohtani’s essential extra rest as he recovers from Tommy John surgery.
The Dodgers are just 5-13 over their past 18 games, and they lost two of three games to the Boston Red Sox this weekend at Fenway Park. Their lead atop the National League West over the San Diego Padres has dwindled to four games after San Diego’s 9-2 win in St. Louis on Sunday.
Still, LA is trying to work back Ohtani, and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell into their rotation.
Snell, who made a rehab start in Reno, Nevada on Saturday, is working his way back from an injury to his throwing shoulder. He tossed 4 2/3 innings, with four walks, zero hits and seven strikeouts for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
What Did Dave Roberts Say About Shohei Ohtani’s Next Start?
Roberts had previously reported that Ohtani would pitch Wednesday in Cincinnati. But he reiterated that Sunday while announcing Ohtani would throw four innings then gave fans more perspective on what his pitching schedule looked like after that.
“Shohei is going to go on Wednesday,” Roberts said before the Dodgers’ loss Sunday, “then he’ll probably pitch the following Wednesday, so that probably lends itself to the six-man [rotation].”
The Dodgers are likely starting Ohtani on Wednesdays so he can get a full off day to recover the day after pitching. Ohtani is just 2 for 20 with one home run and three runs scored and eight strikeouts the day after he makes a start.
Even without Snell, who may make his next start in the majors, the Dodgers have ample starting pitching, especially with All-Star right-hander Tyler Glasnow back on the mound. The Dodgers’ six-man rotation will be spearheaded by Ohtani, Glasnow, former NL MVP Clayton Kershaw, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May and could feature Snell if his next start is in the majors.
The Dodgers have also been linked to highly thought-of starters ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, which could further deepen their rotation — especially if May, and his minus-0.2 bWAR, is traded before Thursday.
What Did Dave Roberts Say About Shohei Ohtani’s Pitching Progress?
Ohtani is a veritable shoo-in to win his second straight NL MVP, even with pitching being less of a part of his game that it has been in past years.
But the Dodgers are going to keep being cautious with their ace-caliber starter, who also happens to be their best hitter. Roberts is hoping to have Ohtani built up to go deep into games in time for the playoffs, which the reigning-champion Dodgers have a 94 percent chance of making, per Baseball Reference.
“I think this whole year on the pitching side is sort of rehab, maintenance,” Roberts said. “We’re not going to have the reins off where we’re going to say: ‘Hey you can go 110 pitches.’ I don’t see that happening for quite some time. I think that staying at four [innings] for a bit, then build up to five and we’ll see where we can go from there.”
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