The Los Angeles Dodgers are entering October with one of the deepest rotations in baseball — but their bullpen is another story. With key veterans faltering and October matchups looming, manager Dave Roberts may soon call on two unconventional reinforcements: rookie right-hander Roki Sasaki and three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani.
Could Shohei Ohtani Go to the Dodgers Bullpen?
Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
As the Dodgers continue to search for late-inning answers, Ohtani’s name has surfaced as a radical option. While Roberts has maintained that Ohtani will remain in the rotation, he admitted the team hasn’t ruled out a postseason pivot.
“Yeah, we do [see him as a starter],” Roberts said when asked about Ohtani’s role. “Could it change down the road in the postseason? Possibly. But right now we see him as a starter.”
Roberts acknowledged the unpredictability of October baseball, noting Ohtani’s previous relief experience in the World Baseball Classic. Still, shifting him to the bullpen carries unique risks under MLB rules. If Ohtani entered in relief after starting the game as a hitter, the Dodgers would lose his bat once he left the mound. With Ohtani slashing .333 and posting a 1.163 OPS since September 1, that’s not a tradeoff the team would take lightly.
Roki Sasaki’s Rocky Transition and Possible Role Change
When the Dodgers landed Sasaki last offseason, many believed they had secured an ace for the next decade. Instead, his first MLB season has been defined by inconsistency and injury. Sasaki posted a 4.72 ERA in eight big-league starts before a shoulder impingement sidelined him in May. Since beginning his rehab stint with Triple-A Oklahoma City in August, his command woes have persisted, with a 6.75 ERA over 18 2/3 innings.
A minor calf setback extended his rehab window, and Roberts confirmed he’ll make at least one more Triple-A appearance. But the bigger question is how the Dodgers plan to use him down the stretch.
Roberts hinted Sasaki may be open to a bullpen role: “My impression is that he’d be willing to do whatever the club needs,” the manager said. Given that a postseason rotation of Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto is already set, Sasaki’s electric stuff might be best suited for shorter, high-leverage outings in October.
If he adapts quickly, he could become a major boost for a bullpen that has seen Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Blake Treinen all struggle in recent weeks.
Balancing the Equation
Ohtani’s recent pitching form adds another wrinkle. In his last three starts, he’s allowed six earned runs over 12 2/3 innings, but his 17 strikeouts against just three walks show flashes of dominance. For now, the Dodgers hope that performance levels off in time for October.
Meanwhile, Sasaki’s development may be the more immediate X-factor. If the 23-year-old can harness his command and thrive in shorter stints, the Dodgers could suddenly turn a weakness into a strength.
With one of baseball’s most potent lineups already in place, the question now is whether Los Angeles can find just enough stability on the mound — and whether two unconventional bullpen additions might provide it.