Shohei Ohtani has now made three starts for the Los Angeles Dodgers as he continues to rehab his arm and build up his strength into being a true starting pitcher.
Ohtani’s third appearance was his best on the mound as he completed two scoreless innings. It was the first time he’s pitched more than one inning for the Dodgers.
But when Ohtani pitches, his offense hasn’t been the same as usual from the perennial MVP candidate. Ohtani has struck out in his first at-bat of the game each time he’s come up right after pitching. He also struck out during Saturday’s game when leading off the third inning.
The sample size is only four at-bats, but that it’s still led to some consideration about removing him from the leadoff spot in the Dodgers lineup when he pitches.
“I asked him before his last start, and he said he’s completely fine with hitting leadoff, doesn’t want to change,” manager Dave Roberts recently said.
“So I think right now we’ll stay status quo, but coming out of this one, he could say it might make more sense to hit second, or third, or fourth. But right now we’re remaining status quo.”
Although Ohtani is comfortable remaining as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, Roberts can see a scenario where dropping him down in the lineup may be more beneficial.
“Yeah, I can,” Roberts began. “He’s good with it right now, but is there a scenario where I feel that it might be better for him in that first at-bat to reshuffle the lineup to give him one, two, three hitters to get set, sure. Absolutely.”
The logic behind moving Ohtani down in the lineup would be so that he doesn’t have to rush into batter’s box after the first inning.
However, if he bats third and becomes the final out or he’s on base when an inning ends, he would have to rush back to the mound anyhow.
If Ohtani is moved to the cleanup spot, the same situation could arise where he has to rush to lead off the second inning, or could be the final out of the first inning.
Even if Ohtani hits second, there could still be scenarios where he’s rushed to fulfill his two-way duties.
Dodgers hoping Shohei Ohtani gets benefit with pitch clock
Pitchers are typically checked for foreign substances by umpires after an inning, but the Dodgers hope an exception could be made for Ohtani given the pitch clock rules.
“I’m sure there might be some talk with that,” Roberts said. “That’s a good thought. I do know on the backend they give him more time as far as when he takes his at-bat, but that’s a good thought.”
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