Shohei Ohtani is set to make history as he prepares to start in Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday. This momentous occasion marks the first time in Major League Baseball (MLB) history that a player will start at least one game as both a pitcher and a non-pitcher in the same postseason.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Ohtani’s starting role shortly after the team clinched their spot in the divisional round with an 8-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Game 2 of the wild-card series. This season, the Dodgers advanced to the playoffs for the 13th consecutive year.
Ohtani will be making his postseason pitching debut at Citizens Bank Park, after being sidelined last year due to surgery. During his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels, he did not have playoff opportunities, making this upcoming game particularly significant for his career.
Thus far in the postseason, the Dodgers have relied on their pitching staff without needing Ohtani on the mound. Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell delivered strong performances in the initial games, with Yamamoto fanning nine batters over six innings in his start.
In his return to pitching this season after undergoing a second surgical procedure following last year’s World Series, Ohtani made his season debut against the San Diego Padres on June 16. He has gradually increased his innings, finishing a six-inning outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks on September 23. With a current earned run average (ERA) of 2.87 and 62 strikeouts over 47 innings, Ohtani has also excelled as a designated hitter, hitting 55 home runs and driving in 102 runs this season, solidifying his status as one of the top players in the league.
On the other hand, the Phillies had an impressive 96-66 record this season, securing the NL East title and a bye from the wild-card round. The Dodgers’ designation as a wild-card team represents a notable achievement as they become the first to earn a divisional series spot this postseason.
With the anticipation building for Ohtani’s historic start, fans and players alike are eager to see how this remarkable player continues to shape the postseason landscape.