Shohei Ohtani made his return to the Dodgers lineup Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds after missing four games, and you could feel the relief. He looked way more like himself than he has in a minute, but here’s the kicker: we probably won’t see him on the mound again this season.
The Ohtani Conundrum: Hitting First, Pitching Later (Maybe Never This Year)
Yeah, you read that right. It’s September 8th, and with only 18 regular season games left, it’s looking super unlikely Ohtani will step on the mound again this season. Manager Dave Roberts hasn’t completely slammed the door on a playoff pitching appearance, but the whole plan now is to get him locked in as a hitter, trying to pull him out of this offensive slump he’s been in. Roberts said they’ve “put a pin in throwing” and are focusing on his hitting, running, and keeping those legs good. He’s “very curious to see how he comes out of tonight” to figure out the plan for “tomorrow and ensuing days,” because “the last couple of weeks he just hasn’t been himself in the box.” Taking the pressure of pitching off his shoulders is the big hope to get his bat back to dominant form.
Mookie’s Surge and Pages’ Incredible Drive
But hey, it’s not all about Ohtani. Is Mookie Betts about to go on one of his legendary late-season tears? Bill Plunkett over at the OC Register is wondering. After another summer that wasn’t exactly stellar, much like last summer, Betts has absolutely kicked it into high gear. In his past 29 games through Sunday, he’s crushed it: a blistering .307 average, going 35 for 114, racking up an .887 OPS, five dingers, and 22 RBIs. Betts himself sounds locked in, saying he’s “able to put good at-bats together, hit the ball hard consistently” and is laser-focused on “stay[ing] in the moment.” He’s not letting “prior at-bats dictate what’s going on right now.” That’s the kind of mental game you want.
And some other good news: Andy Pages is back swinging the bat! Totally pain free after being out for a little over two weeks with a left hand fracture. Roberts wasn’t even shocked by the quick comeback. “If it were up to him, he’d be playing tonight,” Roberts said, adding, “I’m actually not (surprised by his quick recovery). I think this guy has got a crazy desire and youth is a good thing. But bones still have to heal.” Crazy desire? You gotta appreciate that.
What’s Next for the Dodgers
So, with Ohtani focusing purely on his bat, Betts clearly heating up at the perfect time, and Pages pushing hard to rejoin the action, this Dodgers squad is definitely making moves with just 18 games left in the regular season. Every single game counts now, every swing of the bat, every strategic decision for Roberts. You know they’re looking to hit their absolute peak and push hard through this final stretch. What happens next? You better believe we’ll be watching every pitch and every play.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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