Shohei Ohtani is once again delivering a standout season, but this time, the Los Angeles Dodgers star is making headlines for his work on the mound. Manager Dave Roberts has carefully managed the pitching staff, utilizing both Ohtani and Ben Casparius, with Casparius handling the majority of the innings.
Shohei Ohtani has showcased his skills once again this season, cementing his place in the history books by earning a National League All-Star selection for the fifth consecutive year. This shows the importance of the Japanese in the performance of the team during the season.
His starter for the match against the Kansas Royals
On Saturday, June 28, the Los Angeles Dodgers will visit the Kansas City Royals, with the Japanese star set to start on the mound. However, in an interview with MLB.com, manager Dave Roberts made it clear that while Ohtani will start, the number of innings he will pitch remains uncertain.
Shohei Ohtani will face a significant challenge as he could take the mound against a fully healthy Kansas City Royals lineup. In the opening frame, he is expected to square off against Jonathan India, Bobby Witt Jr., and Maikel Garcia, a trio capable of putting pressure on any pitcher.
In his last two appearances, Ohtani has impressed both the Dodgers’ coaching staff and fans with his form on the mound. He threw 28 pitches in his first outing and followed that with an 18-pitch performance in his second, demonstrating that he could become a valuable option.
Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts will have Ben Casparius available at any point during the game to provide support on the mound if needed. Roberts remains focused on carefully managing the team’s overall workload after suffering many injuries from his starts all season long.
Ohtani’s Recovery: Is He Ready for a Full Return
Shohei Ohtani’s journey back to the mound has been anything but easy. Undergoing Tommy John surgery marked a pivotal moment in his career, sidelining him for more than a year. His long-awaited return to the diamond has been closely monitored by the staff and the fans that has waited eagerly for his comeback.
Returning to full strength after Ohtani’s injury is a complex process, which is why the Dodgers’ staff has been cautious in managing his reappearance. That is why Dave Roberts is not taking any risk with the performance of Ohtani’s return; that is why he has only pitched one inning in his first two starts.
However, at Kauffman Stadium, Shohei Ohtani will mark his third pitching appearance this season against the Kansas Royals on Saturday night. Ohtani has been an essential part of the Dodgers’ starting pitching rotation in his limited appearances, using each outing to build experience and regain confidence on the mound.
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