Shohei Ohtani Set to Redefine MLB Playoffs History with Unprecedented NLDS Pitching Debut for Dodgers

Shohei Ohtani is set to take center stage as the NLDS kicks off.

Just this Wednesday, Dodgers’ skipper Dave Roberts made it official: Ohtani will be toeing the rubber for Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies come Saturday. This news broke right after the Dodgers sealed their advance by dispatching the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 in Game 2 of the wild-card series, marking their 13th straight post-season appearance. Quite the streak, huh?

The kicker? When Ohtani steps onto the mound at Citizens Bank Park, he’ll be etching his name in the history books — the very first major leaguer to start in the same postseason both as a pitcher and a position player. Hats off to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs for highlighting this rare feat.

This outing also signals Ohtani’s inaugural pitching performance in the playoffs. After sidelining during last year’s postseason run with the Dodgers because of elbow surgery, and never reaching the playoffs in his tenure with the Angels, this moment carries a lot of weight.

Ohtani’s journey this season has been one of slow but steady ascendancy on the mound following his second elbow surgery last September. Starting with a brief June 16 inning against the Padres, he ramped up to six innings in September’s tight 5-4 loss to the Diamondbacks and took a break since. His numbers this year — a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts over 47 innings — speak to his resilience. As a hitter, he’s been spectacular, smashing a career-best 55 home runs, 102 RBIs, and maintaining a slick slash line of .282/.392/.622. With the MVP spotlight still on him, he’s undoubtedly one to watch this postseason.

Meanwhile, the Phillies, boasting a 96-66 record, nabbed the NL East title and secured the league’s No. 2 seed, cruising past the wild-card round with a bye thanks to their stellar season.

And let’s not forget — the Dodgers are breaking ground as the season’s first wild-card team to punch their ticket to the division series. With three nail-biting Game 3 showdowns scheduled Thursday to wrap up the opening round, the stakes are high and the drama’s just heating up as the divisional battles gear to explode Saturday.

LEARN MORE

Shohei Ohtani is up first in the NLDS.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Wednesday that Ohtani will be the starting pitcher in Game 1 of the NLDS on Saturday against the Philadelphia Phillies. The announcement came shortly after the Dodgers closed out the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 in Game 2 of their wild-card series, which sent the Dodgers into the divisional round of the playoffs for the 13th straight season.

[Yahoo Sports TV is here! Watch live shows and highlights 24/7]

Once Ohtani takes the mound Saturday at Citizens Bank Park, he’ll make Major League Baseball history by becoming the first player to start at least one game as a pitcher and one as a non-pitcher in a single postseason, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs.

It will also mark Ohtani’s MLB postseason pitching debut. He did not pitch last season with the Dodgers while recovering from elbow surgery, and Ohtani did not make the postseason in his six seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.

The Dodgers did not need Ohtani on the mound in their first two games this postseason. Yoshinobu Yamamoto had nine strikeouts and zero earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in his start Wednesday. Blake Snell pitched seven strong innings in the team’s 10-5 win over the Reds in Game 1 on Tuesday.

Ohtani has slowly ramped up pitching this season after a second surgery in September 2023. He made his debut against the San Diego Padres on June 16, pitching one inning. He has gradually increased his outings on the mound since then, and he pitched six full innings in the team’s 5-4 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sept. 23. He hasn’t pitched since.

Ohtani recorded a 2.87 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 47 innings this season. As a hitter, he was almost as dominant as he was last season, when he won NL MVP honors. Ohtani recorded a career-high 55 home runs and 102 RBI this season while recording a slash line of .282/.392/.622. He’s the front-runner to win a second straight MVP award.

The Phillies went 96-66 this season and won the NL East and the league’s No. 2 seed. They trailed only the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL, which gave them a bye out of the wild-card round.

The Dodgers are the first wild-card team to clinch a spot in the division series this season. There will be three Game 3s across the league on Thursday to wrap up the opening round before the division series starts Saturday.