Since the All-Star break, the Dodgers’ pitching staff has been solid but not spectacular. They rank 8th in strikeouts, with a 14-15 record, a 3.54 ERA, and 266 Ks. And now that a lot of starters are making their way back from the injured list, these numbers can get even better. After grinding through much of the season with a thin rotation, the Dodgers suddenly have the opposite problem: too many arms!

For example, Blake Snell’s return earlier this month bumped them up to six healthy starters. And that makes things interesting when it comes to Shohei Ohtani. While he’s never pitched out of the bullpen in the majors, with the postseason in mind, the Dodgers aren’t ruling out the idea. Yes, you heard that right.

On Wednesday’s episode of The Dan Patrick Show, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said he could “absolutely” envision a scenario where Ohtani comes out of the bullpen in the playoffs.

“Shohei Ohtani has never pitched out of the bullpen in his MLB career, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are keeping the option open for the postseason. Appearing on Wednesday’s episode of The Dan Patrick Show, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said he can “absolutely” see a scenario when Ohtani is used in relief during the playoffs,” Dugoutforever wrote on Instagram, citing Prior.

Well, Ohtani isn’t a stranger to pitching in relief. He famously closed out Japan’s 3-2 win over Team USA in the 2023 WBC, striking out his then-Angels teammate Mike Trout for the final out.

With the postseason on the horizon and the Dodgers pursuing their second consecutive World Series title, their main concern is keeping Ohtani healthy. A bullpen role could be the perfect way to protect his arm while still letting him shine in the biggest moments. After all, closers usually throw just an inning at a time. Maybe 15 to 20 pitches, compared to a starter’s 90 to 100 pitches over several innings. That lighter workload would put far less stress on Ohtani’s surgically repaired elbow.

A mixed-bag reaction around Ohtani’s closing role

The Dodgers are, anyway, going to need all the bullpen help they can get in October. Heading into Wednesday, their relievers ranked 20th in the majors with a 4.17 ERA. Aside from Alex Vesia and Jack Dreyer, the only two relievers with an ERA under 3.40 in at least 30 appearances, there hasn’t been much consistency.

A few days back, when the manager, Dave Roberts, was asked about the idea of Ohtani closing games, he said, “I love watching Shohei the closer. It was great. I also like Shohei’s five innings. So we’ll see. I mean, I think Shohei wants to win. He’s made that very clear. Whatever he can do to help us win a championship, he’s willing to do it. So right now we need him to pitch innings,” Roberts said a few days ago.

Roberts’ reluctance to use Ohtani as a closer stems from Ohtani’s role as a hitter. It would create a delicate balancing act. The Dodgers would need to send him to the bullpen immediately after a plate appearance that results in an out, while hoping his turn to bat doesn’t come back around while he’s getting loose. Because if it does, he’d have to stop throwing and step in to hit. That makes the whole thing tricky to manage.

But do everyone’s thoughts align with Roberts’? No! “I would love to see Ohtani as a closer in the World Series,” Former Red Sox icon Pedro Martinez said about the prospect of Ohtani in the bullpen, citing the importance of his health for the team.

What’s your take on this?