Shohei Ohtani Set for Historic Postseason Pitching Debut in Dodgers’ NLDS Opener
LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani is set to make his long-awaited postseason debut on the mound, as the Los Angeles Dodgers have named him the starting pitcher for Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The best-of-five series begins Saturday in Philadelphia. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed the decision following the team’s sweep of the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Wild Card Series on Wednesday night.
“Very talented ballclub. It’s going to be a fun environment,” Roberts said of the matchup with the Phillies. “I think we match up really well with those guys. They’re going to run a bunch of left-handers at us. Talented, all throughout the lineup.”
This moment marks a significant milestone for the two-way superstar, who never reached the playoffs during his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels. Ohtani did not pitch for the Dodgers last season as he recovered from a second elbow surgery performed in December 2023. Despite being limited to hitting, he had a historic year, becoming the first player in major league history to record at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases while helping the Dodgers win the World Series.
Ohtani enters the playoffs on a hot streak at the plate. He revived his offensive production in September, hitting .312 with 10 home runs and a 1.165 OPS. He finished the regular season with a career-high 55 homers. His bat remained potent in the Wild Card Series, where he hit two homers in Game 1 and went 1 for 4 with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI in the series-clinching Game 2.
