The Los Angeles Dodgers will start Jack Flaherty in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and fellow right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Game 2, but have no plans for Shohei Ohtani to pitch in the series, which begins Saturday in Los Angeles.
Ohtani, the two-way star in his first season with the Dodgers, has been throwing during his recovery from a shoulder procedure in 2023, but has not faced live hitters. The club does not expect the NL MVP favorite to pitch until 2025.
¡°I think it¡¯s no different than before,¡± Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes told reporters Wednesday. ¡°We don¡¯t anticipate him pitching in the postseason.¡±
The possibility of Ohtani pitching was first floated by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts in mid-September when he said it was an option. Still, Roberts felt it would be difficult for Ohtani to take the mound in October.
Los Angeles had been besieged by injuries this season and 17 pitchers have started at least one game.
Flaherty, who turns 29 on Oct. 15, was acquired from the Detroit Tigers at the trade deadline and went 6-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 10 starts with Los Angeles.
Yamamoto missed nearly three months with a shoulder issue in his first season in the majors. The 26-year-old from Japan went 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts.
Right-handers Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.38) and Landon Knack (3-5, 3.65) are among the options for Game 3 and a potential Game 4 in the five-game NLDS, according to Gomes.
Among the pitchers the Dodgers have lost for the season are right-handers Tyler Glasnow and Gavin Stone. Left-hander Clayton Kershaw¡¯s status for pitching at any point in the postseason remains uncertain due to the big toe injury he sustained on Aug. 30.
¡°It¡¯s extremely frustrating,¡± Glasnow said last month. ¡°I wanted to come here to win a World Series and pitch in the postseason.¡±
Roberts also believes star first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) will be available on Saturday. Shortstop Miguel Rojas (adductor), meanwhile, is expected to play through an injury that will require surgery after the season.
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