Dodgers Manager Surprises with Unused Strategy

In a surprising turn of events, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts employed a strategy he hadn’t used before during Wednesday’s game. The team was down by a run against the Rays, and he had the best hitter in baseball ready to step in as a pinch hitter.

Despite the fact that Shohei Ohtani was the starting pitcher, one might wonder why Roberts wouldn’t seize the opportunity to put him in the lineup. By the time Ohtani stepped up to bat in the sixth inning, Freddie Freeman had actually hit a two-run home run, giving the Dodgers a 5-4 lead that they maintained for the remainder of the game. Ironically, Ohtani grounded out with the very first pitch he faced from Rays reliever Kevin Kelly.

This isn’t the first time the Dodgers found a way to use Ohtani creatively. On days when he pitches but isn’t in the starting offensive lineup, he can still contribute as a pinch hitter.

The flexibility in a manager’s options is crucial, and Ohtani brings a new dynamic for Roberts as he tries to balance Ohtani’s dual role while keeping his bat in play.

According to baseball regulations, pitchers are permitted to pinch hit for the designated hitter, though a drawback is that doing so would remove the designated hitter from the game for its duration. In this instance, Ohtani had pitched during the inning and was still available to bat in the sixth, replacing Miguel Rojas, the designated hitter. While this situation didn’t recur, it raised questions about how the Dodgers would handle similar situations in the future.

Roberts mused, “Could we have fired that bullet? It’s probably not likely. But if you believe he can step up to the plate, whether you’re ahead or behind, it doesn’t cost you much.”

Ohtani seemed ready for the challenge. “I’m ready to go whenever I’m told,” he stated, quite straightforwardly.

Amid growing demands on Ohtani, especially with Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow out due to injuries, the Dodgers rely heavily on him both in the rotation and in the batter’s lineup alongside stars like Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts. The main priority remains to keep him healthy.

When pinch-hitting options arise, it allows the team to keep Ohtani engaged without pushing him too hard.

Still, concerns loom, particularly about Ohtani’s left knee. He missed a previous game due to knee swelling, which he attributed to a mechanical issue in his pitching. “I wouldn’t say we’re completely behind,” said Roberts, acknowledging the ongoing challenges but expressing confidence in the team’s management of Ohtani’s condition.

Ohtani also dealt with a blister on his pitching finger, and by Wednesday, he described his fingers as bleeding. “I can’t always give 100% power when pitching,” he commented, adding that such injuries frequently occur throughout the season. Yet, he appreciated the team’s ability to secure a win under the circumstances.

Though Ohtani insisted that his injuries weren’t affecting him, recent performance metrics told a different story. Just a week prior in Pittsburgh, he allowed six hits and three runs in a narrow 9-8 defeat, marking his poorest showing of the season. His subsequent start was even worse, giving up seven hits and four runs in six innings.

Against the Rays, he had a rocky beginning, allowing a walk to the No. 7 hitter, Victor Mesa Jr., and subsequently both runs scored. With 26 pitches in the first inning alone, Roberts opted to let him continue. Remarkably, Ohtani managed to throw six scoreless innings, improving his record to 7 wins and 2 losses. This not only helped the Dodgers but also opened new possibilities for both him and the team.