The Los Angeles Dodgers are continuing to slowly build up Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher.
At this point, the Dodgers feel that any innings they can get from Ohtani is a bonus since he doesn’t count toward one of the 13 pitchers allowed on the team’s active roster.
Ohtani threw just one inning in each of his first two starts. In his most recent start last Saturday, he pitched two innings against the Kansas City Royals.
With Ohtani’s fourth start scheduled for this Saturday — Ohtani’s 31st 𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡day — manager Dave Roberts revealed how long the two-way star will be out on the mound.
Roberts told reporters Friday that the plan is for Ohtani to throw another two innings on Saturday. That will take his season total up to six innings in four starts.
Ohtani struggled in his first start against the San Diego Padres, needing 28 pitches to get through the first inning while allowing two hits and one run.
Since then, he’s been dominant, needing a total of 45 pitches to throw three scoreless innings. Ohtani has allowed just one hit and one walk with three strikeouts against the Washington Nationals and Royals.
As of now, Ohtani continues to be the leadoff hitter on his pitching days. However, Roberts has said the team is considering moving him down in the order to give him time in between his first inning on the mound and his first at-bat.
Before worrying about Saturday’s start, though, Ohtani and the Dodgers will look to start their series against the Houston Astros with a win on Friday night. Ben Casparius, who had been playing as Ohtani’s piggyback, will start on Friday, leaving a question mark for how the Dodgers will fill the seven innings behind Ohtani on Saturday.
