The Los Angeles Dodgers have set their pitching rotation for the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, revealing when superstar Shohei Ohtani will take the mound. While Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto handle Games 1 and 2, Ohtani is scheduled to start Game 4, with Tyler Glasnow taking Game 3. Manager Dave Roberts has also suggested Ohtani could be available in relief if the series reaches a decisive Game 7.
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Glasnow and Ohtani’s Roles In the NLCS vs Brewers
Roberts explained the strategy behind the rotation. “Shohei’s been fine with rest, potentially lines him up if we need a Game 7 out of the ‘pen,” Roberts said. “Game 3, we feel that Tyler is on regular rest, so it kind of lines him up as well.” Glasnow has already pitched twice this postseason, relieving Ohtani in Game 1 of the NLDS with 1.2 scoreless innings, then starting Game 4 to throw six shutout innings with eight strikeouts.
Ohtani, meanwhile, has started once this postseason in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched six innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out nine, earning the win. Despite struggling at the plate, going 1-for-18 with an RBI during the NLDS, Roberts emphasized that his offensive performance did not factor into the pitching decision.
“No, not at all. I think it was just kind of Shohei’s going to pitch one game this series. So it’s one game and then you have two other guys that potentially can pitch on regular rest. So how do you get sort of your best pitchers the most innings in a potential seven-game series,” Roberts said. “I expect a different output from Shohei on the offensive side this series.”
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Looking Ahead
If the series extends beyond four games, the Dodgers plan to follow this rotation: Game 5 — Blake Snell, Game 6 — Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Game 7 — Tyler Glasnow with Ohtani available in relief. The approach aims to maximize innings from LA’s top arms while keeping options open for a potential late-series bullpen appearance from the two-way star.