The Los Angeles Dodgers recently revealed that it is unlikely that Shohei Ohtani will pitch again this season, and the four-time MVP also admitted that he will focus on hitting for the rest of the year.
Ohtani was having a stellar year on the mound, posting a 1.79 ERA in 14 starts. He had gone at least six innings 13 times, and losing him in the rotation is a big blow. For most teams, losing a starter who can consistently go six innings with a sub-2.00 ERA would be like losing an ace. However, that's not the case for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers still have Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Justin Wrobleski and Eric Lauer. The question is, who will their postseason starters be?
Lauer is currently on the injured list, but has been solid for the Dodgers this year. However, it's unlikely he starts in October. Sasaki has looked dominant since the Dodgers got him a bigger glove and tweaked some of his mechanics, but he is currently on the injured list with a blister. Wrobleski was an All-Star this year, but has struggled as of late, and his innings count could essentially force him into a bullpen role for October.
That leaves Skubal, Yamamoto, Snell and Glasnow. Between them, there are four Cy Young Awards, four ERA titles, six-All-Star selections and a World Series MVP.
The Dodgers could throw them out in any order and feel comfortable. However, in an ideal world, Skubal likely takes the ball in Game 1, with Yamamoto, Snell and Glasnow to follow. However, the Dodgers may not have the luxury of a first-round bye this year. The Atlanta Braves are trying to pass the Dodgers for the No. 2 seed, so the Dodgers may not get to line up their pitching exactly as they want.
Last postseason, Ohtani made four starts with a 4.43 ERA. However, in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, he played one of the greatest games of all-time. He had 10 strikeouts in six innings and also hit three home runs. He won't have the chance to do something like that again this year, but luckily for the Dodgers, they still have an elite group of starters.