Dodgers ‘do not anticipate’ Shohei Ohtani pitching in MLB postseason

Jack Flaherty will begin Sport 1 of this weekend’s Nationwide League Division Sequence for the Los Angeles Dodgers, with rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto set for Sport 2.

Dodgers basic supervisor Brandon Gomes stated Wednesday that the workforce hasn’t finalized plans for Video games 3 and doubtlessly 4, however Walker Buehler and rookie Landon Knack will probably be concerned.

The Dodgers will play the winner of the NL Wild Card between the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres, who lead the best-of-three sequence 1-0.

One of the best-of-five NLDS opens Saturday at Dodger Stadium.

Yamamoto has made simply 4 begins since coming off the injured listing, having missed practically three months with an arm damage. The precise-hander allowed two runs at Colorado in his ultimate tune-up final weekend. He pitched 5 innings, his longest outing since returning.

Yamamoto could also be an MLB rookie, however he is bought loads of big-game expertise in his native Japan, together with pitching within the 2022 Japan Sequence, the place he led the Orix Buffaloes to victory, and within the Tokyo Olympics, when Japan gained a gold medal.

“I do not assume Yama’s going to be fazed by the large second,” Gomes stated on a teleconference. “If something, I feel he will thrive on it.”

Flaherty joined the Dodgers from the Detroit Tigers on the July commerce deadline. The deal introduced him again to his hometown. The precise-hander had a 3.58 ERA in 55 1/3 innings over 10 begins for the Dodgers.

Shohei Ohtani will proceed throwing bullpen classes as he rehabs from his second elbow surgical procedure a yr in the past, however there are not any plans for him to face reside hitters, Gomes stated.

“We don’t anticipate him pitching within the postseason,” the GM stated.

As a substitute, the Dodgers will depend on his bat to assist carry them, as Ohtani did in his record-setting first season with the workforce.

The Dodgers completed the common season with one of the best document in baseball (98-64), incomes the No. 1 seed within the NL and guaranteeing home-field benefit all through the playoffs.

That gave them a bye and as soon as once more the workforce is off for 5 days going into the NLDS. The layoff hasn’t been sort to them the final two years. They had been swept out of the Division Sequence by Arizona final yr and misplaced to the Padres 3-1 in 2022.

“Our guys are uninterested in it,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated of the early exits.

Roberts has observed a distinct angle within the clubhouse this time round

“I see some extra starvation, I see some extra edge. I like that,” he stated. “To not say that guys weren’t ready or making an attempt or cared, however there’s a distinct stage of depth.”

The Dodgers can truly use the additional time without work this yr, with a number of gamers making an attempt to heal and the closely taxed bullpen needing some relaxation.

All-Star first baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Miguel Rojas are making progress after getting injured lately. Roberts stated he is assured Freeman will probably be within the beginning lineup, though his proper ankle damage may restrict him defensively.

Freeman is taking swings within the batting cage and can doubtless face reside pitching both Thursday or Friday.

Rojas has a tear in his left adductor muscle. He acquired an injection final week and would require surgical procedure after the season, however he is anticipated to play.

Reporting by The Related Press.

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