Shohei Ohtani revealed that two of his favorite parts of playing in Philadelphia were the “very passionate” fans and the now-famous cheese steaks in the visiting clubhouse, causing Phillies fans’ ears to perk up.
But behind that light remark lies a deeper narrative about a postseason stage, high expectations, and the uniqueness of October in Philadelphia.
As Ohtani prepares to make his postseason pitching debut in Game 1 of the NL Division Series against the Phillies, his comments offer more than simple flair. They also offer a window into how he’s approaching a momentous occasion.
“Very talented ballclub. It’s going to be a fun environment,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in confirming Ohtani would get the start.
Philly passion and cheesesteaks: not just fluff
Ohtani‘s praise, first highlighted in press coverage and echoed widely, struck a balance between being complimentary and human.
He went on to gush about the famous Philly Cheesesteak, which greets visiting teams at Citizens Bank Park.
To fans and media alike, those lines serve as more than flavor text. They hint at how Ohtani views the atmosphere he’s walking into.
In Philadelphia, where expectations are weighed just as heavily as performance, declaring admiration for local culture can go a long way in winning goodwill.
At the same time, Ohtani is acutely aware of the stakes. He told reporters, “I’m sure I’ll be nervous at times. But more than that, I’m just really grateful that I get to play baseball at this time of the year. And just being healthy is really important to me, so I’m just grateful for that.”
That gratitude matters because Ohtani‘s return to the mound in the playoffs has been delayed until now by injury and recovery. He did not pitch in last year’s postseason while recovering from his second elbow surgery.
Building toward a defining moment
Ohtani‘s 2025 season has been a balancing act between elite offense and cautious mound work. He struck out 62 batters over 47 innings while posting a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts. He entered the postseason riding three straight scoreless outings.
But perhaps more revealing is his recent outing against Philadelphia: less than three weeks before the postseason, he retired 15 of 16 batters in a start at Dodger Stadium.
That performance left a mark on Phillies manager Rob Thomson, who said, “It’s the combination of power and control, command, stuff … He was pumping strikes … and the secondary pitches are all way above average.”
For Philadelphia, their decision to hand Game 1 to Cristopher Sánchez signals trust in homegrown arms.
Sánchez posted career highs in wins, innings, and strikeouts this year, and has been dominant at home, leading 6-0 with a 1.94 ERA in 15 starts at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies, without Zack Wheeler due to health issues, are banking on Sánchez to neutralize the advantage of speaking first.
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