The Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up their series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a loss on Wednesday. Despite the defeat, Shohei Ohtani delivered another historic performance.
The two-way star hit his 1,000th MLB career hit with a home run. He also struck out eight batters and threw a fastball that exceeded 100 mph. Still, questions are growing about how far the Dodgers can push their superstar.
Read More: Schwarber Overtakes Ohtani to Lead NL in Home Runs
Dodgers Draw the Line on Ohtani’s Pitching Role
So far, the team has been reluctant to extend Ohtani in full starting pitching roles. Especially with stars like Mookie Betts currently underperforming. And following Ohtani’s recent early exit due to hip cramps, amid his recovery from a second UCL surgery, the team appears to be shifting priorities.
“If he gets hurt, it impacts their lineup even more than it does their rotation,” wrote Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Further underlining the dilemma facing the Dodgers.
Manager Dave Roberts echoed that sentiment, hinting that Ohtani’s value at the plate may now take precedence over his role on the mound.
“What we’re doing right now is essentially house money,” Roberts said. “It’s additive, being a two-way player. So we have to be mindful of Shohei, now and in the future.”
With the postseason on the horizon and a roster riddled with injuries, the Dodgers know that any setback to Shohei Ohtani could derail their World Series hopes.
For now, it appears they’ll err on the side of caution, choosing to protect their MVP slugger, even if that means dialing back his time on the mound.
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