The Los Angeles Dodgers are treating September like October. For manager Dave Roberts, that means evaluating his bullpen under the harsh light of playoff pressure.
“This is our pennant race right now. It started early, and we’ve got to win every game,” Roberts told reporters, including MLB.com’s Sonja Chen. “It’s about, for me, trusting the guys. And you [earn trust] by performing and going after guys, and not pitching too carefully. I’m gonna go with the guys that I trust. They’re all talented in their own right, but yeah, you’re gonna go with the guys you trust. This is a great audition opportunity for each of them.”
Through Tuesday, the Dodgers’ bullpen had thrown more innings than any team in baseball (585.2), with a 4.20 ERA that ranked 19th in the league. Only seven clubs had blown more saves. The numbers underline why Roberts is willing to consider unorthodox solutions—including Shohei Ohtani.
Could Ohtani Be the Wild-Card Closer?
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
Ohtani has thrived as a starter in his first year back on the mound, posting a 3.75 ERA across 12 outings while striking out 49 and walking just eight in 36 innings. Yet the postseason rarely requires six starting pitchers. With Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw, and Emmet Sheehan in the mix, Ohtani’s role could be reevaluated.
“There’s obviously thoughts about that,” Roberts said when asked about Ohtani potentially closing. “I can’t answer that question right now. But we’re going to do whatever we feel gives us the best chance to win. And I know Shohei would be open to whatever. We haven’t certainly made that decision.”
The challenge lies in execution. Ideally, Ohtani could begin throwing after batting in the seventh inning, use the eighth to stay loose, and enter in the ninth. But baseball rarely offers ideal scenarios. If Ohtani were saved for the ninth and forced to hit in the meantime, he would need to dash back and forth between the plate, bases, and bullpen. And if he couldn’t finish the game, the Dodgers would forfeit their designated hitter for the rest of the night.
Rule 5.11(b)—the so-called “Ohtani Rule”—offers some flexibility by allowing a two-way player to both hit and pitch without losing DH status. But once moved off the mound into another defensive spot, the DH disappears. That makes an Ohtani-as-closer experiment a logistical puzzle as much as a tactical one.
Roki Sasaki’s Progress Adds Another Layer
Meanwhile, the Dodgers got a boost from Roki Sasaki’s rehab start in Triple-A. The 23-year-old Japanese phenom struck out eight over 4.2 innings, with his fastball climbing back to 100 mph and his splitter generating 16 whiffs.
“That’s a good thing for the Dodgers and for Roki,” Roberts said after the outing. “We’ll have some conversations after this one, but that’s good to hear.”
Given the depth in the rotation, Sasaki could slot into a bullpen role down the stretch. His swing-and-miss stuff makes him a potential weapon in October, especially with multiple relievers still sidelined.
Trust Issues With the Veterans
The front office invested heavily in Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates last winter, but both have struggled to deliver consistent results. Blake Treinen missed more than three months and has been shaky since returning, while trade deadline addition Brock Stewart has barely pitched due to injury.
In Roberts’ ideal world, at least two of those veterans stabilize in the coming weeks, pairing with Alex Vesia and Michael Kopech in high-leverage spots. If not, the Dodgers may have to lean on less conventional answers.
Can the Rookies Hold Up?
Rookie arms such as Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, and Justin Wrobleski—names barely on the radar in March—have shouldered more innings than expected. Each has shown flashes, but October is a different challenge. Edgardo Henriquez could also be in the mix, while the wild card remains Brusdar Graterol, who has spent the season rehabbing shoulder surgery.
“The last couple years he’s missed significant time,” Roberts said, “but then when he’s ready, he has the ability to kind of not let the postseason faze him. … I wouldn’t be surprised with that guy.”
The Big Picture
As the Dodgers (80–64) cling to a narrow lead over the Padres in the NL West, every night feels like a playoff test. The bullpen is under the microscope, and each outing is both audition and referendum.
For now, the questions outnumber the answers. Can Scott or Yates turn their seasons around? Will Sasaki be deployed as a high-leverage weapon? Could Ohtani reprise his World Baseball Classic heroics in the ninth inning?
The Dodgers don’t have much time left to decide—but as Roberts keeps reminding everyone, the audition is already underway.