Shohei Ohtani is set to take the mound at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday as the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Ohtani has never pitched in the MLB postseason, so it’s been a long time coming for the 31-year-old. Pitching has always been Ohtani’s first choice, but he never made the playoffs with the Los Angeles Angels in six seasons, and he was still rehabbing from Tommy John surgery last October with the Dodgers.
As Ohtani gets ready to make his first career playoff start, he’s excited for the moment.
“Just really looking forward to it,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Will Ireton.
With that energy, there’s surely going to be some extra adrenaline for the right-hander, and he anticipates needing to control it. Ohtani already has an average fastball velocity in the 95th percentile of pitchers at 98.1 mph, and that may even tick up a bit more.
“I’m aware that there are pitchers who get excited and their velo goes up, and there’s some it just stays pretty much the same,” Ohtani said. “If I were to pick a side, I’m probably the one that really the velo goes up. But that being said, I need to make sure I’m poised and balanced. And it’s just going to be how well I can compose myself out there as well.”
Pitchers in the postseason sometimes let that emotion overcome them, but Ohtani has been on baseball’s biggest stage before, and he’s someone who always steps up in those moments. Even with his past success and always being the center of attention, Ohtani isn’t immune to the pressure.
“I’m sure I’ll be nervous at times,” he conceded. “But more than that, I’m just really grateful that I get to play baseball at this time of the year. And just being healthy is really important to me, so I’m just grateful for that.”
Citizens Bank Park is going to be rocking with roughly 43,000 fans filling the stadium. It’s not an easy stadium for visiting players, and Ohtani will need to block out the noise.
But that’s also one of the best parts of postseason baseball, and the trip to Philadelphia also brings an extra benefit.
“They’re known to be very passionate fans. The atmosphere, I’m sure, is going to be passionate and rocking, as well. And one thing I do know is that they serve really good Phillies cheesesteaks in the clubhouse.”
Shohei Ohtani open to any role for Dodgers
The Dodgers have mostly completed Ohtani’s rehab and now have the ability to truly unleash him as a pitcher. The superstar pitched six innings in his last outing, and could potentially even go seven in October.
One thing they have pushed back against, still, is using Ohtani as a reliever. However, he is up for that role if that’s what the Dodgers need from him.
“The principle I follow is, hitting-wise, pitching-wise, it’s up to the coaching staff to make the determination when to pitch,” Ohtani said. “My intention as a starting pitcher is to go five, six innings. And if the coaching staff thinks that I’ll be somewhat be able to be utilized in different situations, then I’ll be ready for that.”
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