The Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates are both adjusting on the fly as Wednesday’s matchup at PNC Park approaches, following a late update on Shohei Ohtani’s availability.
Ohtani, originally scheduled to start on the mound, will instead serve as LA’s designated hitter after being “under the weather” yesterday, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Manager Dave Roberts explained that while Ohtani could still swing the bat, he “didn’t feel great throwing his side session because of the illness.” Roberts added that Ohtani is expected to return to pitching “sometime this weekend.”
Pirates Make 3 Lineup Changes After Dodgers Pull Shohei Ohtani
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Moments before first pitch, Emmet Sheehan was announced as the starter. Sheehan, who last pitched on August 25, is 5-2 with a 3.56 ERA in 10 starts this season. He will face right-hander Braxton Ashcraft, who starts his fifth consecutive game after a strong run as a rookie. Ashcraft has posted a 1.23 ERA across his five MLB starts, striking out 48 while walking 15 over 52.1 innings, marking the second-lowest ERA for a rookie in their first five starts since Zack Duke in 2006.
Despite Ohtani’s absence on the mound, fans can still expect fireworks at the plate. The two-way superstar is hitting .279 with a .998 OPS and 46 home runs this season. In Tuesday’s 9-7 loss to Pittsburgh, he went 3-for-5 with three extra-base hits, including two doubles and a 120 mph home run — his 100th homer with Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, the Pirates are also making lineup adjustments to match the Dodgers’ rotation change. Spencer Horwitz returns at first base, batting second, while Oneil Cruz comes back in center field, slotting seventh. Joey Bart will catch in place of Henry Davis and bat eighth. Nick Gonzales moves from second to sixth, and rookie Cam Devanney rounds out the infield in the ninth spot. Jared Triolo remains at shortstop and leadoff after a two-double, two-RBI performance in the series opener.
Veteran Andrew McCutchen continues at designated hitter in the fifth spot, with Bryan Reynolds in right field batting third, and Tommy Pham in left at fourth.
“This gives us an opportunity to get our left-handed bats going again,” a Pirates source noted, referencing the lineup reshuffle aimed at responding to the Dodgers’ pitching adjustment.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m., with fans eager to see how Sheehan handles the Pittsburgh lineup and how Ohtani impacts the game from the batter’s box. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is expected to provide more insight on Ohtani’s pitching schedule during his media availability later Wednesday.
LA Wednesday Lineup
- Shohei Ohtani, DH
- Mookie Betts, SS
- Will Smith, C
- Freddie Freeman, 1B
- Teoscar Hernandez, RF
- Alex Call, LF
- Andy Pages, CF
- Alex Freeland, 2B
- Kiké Hernandez, 3B
Pitt Wednesday Lineup
- Jared Triolo, SS
- Spencer Horwitz, 1B
- Bryan Reynolds, RF
- Tommy Pham, LF
- Andrew McCutchen, DH
- Nick Gonzales, 2B
- Oneil Cruz, CF
- Joey Bart, C
- Cam Devanney, 3B