Shohei Ohtani delivered a stellar performance in his final regular season pitching start, shutting out the Arizona Diamondbacks for six innings, throwing a season-high 91 pitches. This marked a significant milestone in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, exceeding previous inning restrictions and signaling a potential shift towards more traditional starting roles in the upcoming postseason.
However, Ohtani’s exceptional outing was overshadowed by another late-game collapse by the Dodgers’ bullpen. After building a 4-0 lead, rookie relievers Jack Dreyer and Edgardo Henriquez surrendered three runs in the seventh inning. The implosion continued in the ninth, as closer Tanner Scott blew his tenth save of the season, culminating in Geraldo Perdomo’s walk-off RBI single, resulting in a 5-4 loss and shrinking the Dodgers’ division lead to 1 ½ games with five games remaining. This loss marked the Dodgers’ 11th walk-off defeat of the season.
Ohtani’s performance showcased a noticeable increase in intensity and performance over his last four starts, culminating in a 2.87 ERA across 15 starts. His fastball consistently reached speeds of up to 101.2 mph, contributing to five of his eight strikeouts. His diverse seven-pitch arsenal kept the Diamondbacks off balance, limiting them to five singles and no walks.
The Dodgers’ postseason pitching rotation is now a key area of focus, with Ohtani’s role being a central discussion point. While manager Dave Roberts virtually guaranteed Ohtani’s inclusion as a starter in the upcoming best-of-three wild-card round even if the Dodgers secure the NL West division title, the exact order remains undecided. The team is weighing the optimal strategy to leverage their star player.
The possibility of starting the wild-card series with Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in Games 1 and 2, saving Ohtani for a potential Game 3, is under consideration. This strategy would allow Ohtani to focus solely on his designated hitter duties in the first two games, avoiding the performance dip he’s experienced (.138 batting average) when playing immediately after pitching starts. Ohtani himself remained noncommittal regarding his preference for a starting position.
The Dodgers’ bullpen woes continue to overshadow other concerns. September’s struggles, with relievers being credited as the losing pitcher in eight out of ten losses, highlight a persistent issue. Neither veteran nor rookie relievers have consistently performed under high-leverage situations. The manager expressed concern about the bullpen’s cautious approach, attributing it to fear of failure, advocating instead for a more assertive style.
The seventh-inning collapse saw Dreyer allow a single and an RBI double, followed by Henriquez’s inside cutter being hit for a two-run home run by Adrian Del Castillo. In the ninth, Scott’s reliance on his slider (18 of 21 pitches), coupled with poor location (seven strikes out of 21 pitches), led to his downfall. He hit Vargas with a pitch and walked Tawa, allowing McCann to execute a successful bunt before Barrosa’s sacrifice fly and Perdomo’s walk-off single sealed the loss.
Scott acknowledged his responsibility for the loss, expressing frustration with his performance and the team’s inability to capitalize on the strong start provided by Ohtani. The manager highlighted the bullpen’s tendency to fall behind in counts, walk batters, and hit batters, attributing it to a lack of confidence and conviction in executing pitches.
The desperation within the Dodgers’ organization is evident in Clayton Kershaw’s availability in relief, a role he might assume in the playoffs. While not utilized in this instance, the possibility underscores the team’s mounting concerns. The bullpen’s unreliability casts a shadow over the team’s playoff prospects, regardless of the starting pitching rotation.
Bullpen reinforcements
The Dodgers anticipate at least one bullpen reinforcement with rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki’s expected activation on Wednesday following his recovery from a shoulder injury. However, the status of Brock Stewart, acquired at the trade deadline, remains uncertain. While he recently completed a minor-league rehab stint, his activation this week is not guaranteed, pending further evaluation of his shoulder injury.
Stewart underwent an extended flat-ground session observed by a team trainer and general manager Brandon Gomes, indicating a cautious approach to his return. The team’s decision regarding his activation will be made following further assessment of his condition.