Dodgers to Utilize Shohei Ohtani as Batter on Pitching Days

Shohei Ohtani will open the season as a pitcher for the first time since 2023. He arrives after two MVP awards and two World Series titles across two seasons with the Dodgers. The move sets high expectations for his dual role this year.

Pitching plans and workload

Manager Dave Roberts said Ohtani has the talent to contend for top pitching honors. Roberts suggested a Cy Young conversation is possible if Ohtani performs as expected. Filmogaz.com notes the club will closely monitor his workload to keep him healthy.

The Dodgers plan to utilize Shohei Ohtani as a batter on days he pitches. For now, he will remain in the lineup as a hitter on start days. The team sees that as the default unless performance or health forces a change.

Limited innings and longer rest between starts are on the table. Giving Ohtani six or seven days off could help. But those gaps complicate rotation order and bullpen usage.

Concerns about the relief corps add to the challenge. Questions surrounding right-hander Roki Sasaki mean the bullpen may not absorb much extra work. That reality influences how the Dodgers manage Ohtani’s innings.

Ohtani’s preferences and management outlook

Ohtani has expressed a desire to both pitch and hit regularly. He emphasized that staying healthy is his top priority. Roberts called that desire realistic, while stressing that the club must navigate workload carefully.

There is no guaranteed pattern for his starts yet. Management expects flexibility rather than a fixed every-sixth- or seventh-day schedule. The focus will be balancing winning games with protecting his long-term availability.

Catching, lineup and clubhouse notes

Timely catching choices will matter with Ohtani on the mound. The Dodgers plan to split time behind the plate between Will Smith and Dalton Rushing. Roberts said Smith’s playing time will not be needlessly compromised by a younger backup.

Angels roster moves and pitching updates

The Angels are set to add left-hander Joey Lucchesi to the roster, a source said. He is expected to be available for Thursday’s opener against the Houston Astros. The club must clear a 40-man roster spot to make the move official.

Infielders Adam Frazier and Jeimer Candelario are also expected to need 40-man spots. The Angels’ bullpen had been slated to include lefties Drew Pomeranz and Brent Suter this spring. Pomeranz posted a 9.64 ERA in six spring appearances, while Suter had a 7.36 ERA in seven outings.

Lucchesi, 32, shifted to full-time relief last season. He went 0-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 38 appearances for the San Francisco Giants. Across seven major league seasons with San Diego, New York and San Francisco, he is 23-27 with a 4.07 ERA in 119 appearances, including 77 starts.

Injury and player status

Infielder Vaughn Grissom will start the season on the injured list with a wrist issue. He has progressed to hitting off a tee and taking ground balls. Manager Kurt Suzuki said Mike Trout is mobile and ready to return to center field this season.

Upcoming games

Ohtani is chasing a fourth straight MVP. Only Barry Bonds accomplished four consecutive MVPs from 2001 to 2004. The season will test how the Dodgers balance elite production with careful health management.

Staff writer Jeff Fletcher contributed to this report.