Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Answers Seemingly Ridiculous Question About Shohei Ohtani

Haven't we been through this already?

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) before the game against the New York Mets during game five of the NLCS for the 2024 MLB playoffs at Citi Field on Oct 18. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Dodgers will play the New York Mets on Sunday night in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series at Dodger Stadium. First pitch is 8:08 p.m. ET.

With a 3-2 series lead in hand, the Dodgers are just one win away from their first trip to the World Series since the 2020 season. The Mets are looking to force a Game 7.

One of the questions surrounding the Dodgers continues to be about the team's lack of pitching depth. It's amazing that the Dodgers have gotten this far considering that Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May, Gavin Stone and Emmett Sheehan are all out right now with injuries. In the case of May, Gonsolin and Kershaw, they've missed most or all of the season.

Despite those injury issues and the fact that the Dodgers are going with a bullpen game in Game 6, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says that superstar Shohei Ohtani will not be available to pitch if the team needs the help in Games 6 or 7.

Dave Roberts was asked if Shohei Ohtani would be available to pitch in Games 6 or 7:

"He is not, thank you for asking." pic.twitter.com/JPqXOJafBn

— SNY (@SNYtv) October 19, 2024

On the surface, that's a ridiculous question: Ohtani hasn't pitched all year while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Would you really throw him out there in a must-win game? Furthermore, Ohtani's rehab hasn't even progressed to facing live hitters yet.

That said, teams tend to have an "all hands-on deck" thought process in the playoffs, so it was probably fair just to get some clarification on how "on deck" the Dodgers will actually be in this quest.

As a pitcher, Ohtani is 38-19 lifetime with a 3.01 ERA. He's struck out 608 batters in 481.2 innings. He's made 86 starts, all for the Angels.

Even without his pitching, he's set to win his third MVP Award in the last four years.

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