Shohei Ohtani would start Game 5 of the NLDS if the series goes on, Dave Roberts confirms

Los Angeles. – Dodgers manager, Dave Roberts, confirmed that Shohei Ohtani will return to the mound in Game 5 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Philadelphia Phillies, in case the series reaches that decisive instance next Saturday.

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“If the series goes the distance, he would be the opener”, Roberts declared this Monday when asked about the rotation of the defending World Series champions. Ohtani, who had a brilliant first postseason start in his career, was key in Los Angeles’ victory in Game 1. The Japanese star allowed three runs in the second inning, but then dominated with authority, allowing only one hit in the next four innings and striking out nine batters. That performance placed Ohtani with the third-most strikeouts for a Dodgers pitcher in his playoff debut, surpassed only by Don Newcombe (11 in 1949) and Tim Belcher (10 in 1988). His dominance allowed the Dodgers’ offense to react, and the Dominican Teoscar Hernández took charge of changing the story with a three-run home run in the seventh inning, sealing a 5-3 victory as visitors at Citizens Bank Park. Roberts made it clear that he is not considering using Ohtani as a reliever for the rest of the series:

“Using him from the bullpen against the Phillies is not on our radar,” the manager pointed out.

With the Dodgers leading the series 1-0, Game 2 will be this Monday at 6:08 p.m. (Eastern Time), with Blake Snell opening for Los Angeles and the left-handed Jesús Luzardo for Philadelphia. Los angelinos buscan colocarse a una victoria de avanzar a la Serie de Campeonato, mientras que los Filis tratarán de igualar antes de viajar a California. Ohtani, who already shone as a batter during the season and is now demonstrating his worth on the mound, could have the fate of the series in his hands if the duel extends to the limit.