Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed the plan for his entire starting rotation for the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
While Shohei Ohtani will start Game 1 — as Roberts announced on Wednesday — the Game 2 starter will likely be Blake Snell, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto getting Game 3 back at Dodger Stadium.
“We’re thinking about Snell then Yamamoto,” Roberts said during Friday’s media availability in Philadelphia.
After that, Roberts said the team will use Tyler Glasnow in Game 4, but since he’s not set to pitch until Thursday (if necessary), he’ll be available out of the bullpen in Game 1.
“Just having the ability for Glas to be available for Game 1 is huge,” Roberts said, “and then pitch a potential Game 4 is also huge.”
So, the Dodgers starting rotation should look like this in the NLDS:
- Game 1: Shohei Ohtani
- Game 2: Blake Snell
- Game 3: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
- Game 4: Tyler Glasnow
At this point, it’s too early to name a Game 5 starter, but it appears it would likely be Ohtani.
Clayton Kershaw’s NLDS Role
As for Clayton Kershaw, Roberts confirmed the future Hall of Famer will be on the NLDS roster after being left off the Wild Card roster. Kershaw will be available out of the bullpen for LA.
“He’ll be on the roster,” Roberts said of Kershaw. “He’s gonna be out of the ‘pen and used as such.”
Shohei Ohtani’s Ready for Game 1 Start
Ohtani is set to make his first career postseason start (or appearance) as a pitcher on Saturday. He’s looking forward to the challenge of pitching in a new environment.
“I’m sure I’ll be nervous at times,” Ohtani said Friday. “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.”
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