The injury-ravaged Dodgers could get major pitching help during their postseason run from the potential NL MVP Shohei Ohtani.
In an interview with MLB Network Radio, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts didn’t rule out Ohtani returning in the postseason.
“Shohei is on board with his rehab process, and I wouldn’t put it past him to have an eye on the postseason,” said Roberts. “We’ll see how it plays out.”
Ohtani underwent elbow surgery on September 19, 2023, nearly three months before he signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. While most of the attention has been on his pursuit of the historic 50 home run/50 stolen bases record, Ohtani has quietly been progressing with his pitching rehab. According to a report from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez, he has begun throwing off a mound and is scheduled to face live hitters in the coming weeks.
The Dodgers have been rampaged by starting pitcher injuries this season, as every member of their rotation has landed on the IL, including two (Emmett Sheehan and Dustin May) who underwent season-ending surgery. Though Ohtani would almost assuredly return as a reliever, it’s clear that the Dodgers could use whatever help they could get to capture their second World Series title in five years.
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Photo Credit: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers throws before the game against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on September 10, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
