Dodgers considering Shohei Ohtani helping as reliever - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has proved to be a viable starting pitcher as the postseason approaches, but Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Wednesday that the organization has considered whether he might be more valuable helping a weary bullpen — perhaps especially in a shorter series like the three-game wild-card round.

It remains far more likely that Ohtani will serve as one of the Dodgers' starters in the playoffs, but Roberts said the possibility of Ohtani helping out of the bullpen is «something we're all talking about.»

«I know that we are going to be talking about it,» Roberts said. «I think the one thing you can say, though, is that we use him once every seven days, eight days, nine days — [11] days in between his last start — so to think that now it's feasible for a guy that's just coming off what he's done last year, or didn't do last year, to then now put him in a role that's very, very unique — because he's a very methodical, disciplined, routine-driven person. The pen is the complete opposite, right? You potentially could be taking on risk, and we've come this far, certainly with the kid gloves and managing.»

The Dodgers' caution while managing Ohtani's return to the mound in the wake of a second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament was evident Tuesday, when Roberts removed him after five no-hit innings despite only 68 pitches. That decision was predetermined, Roberts said, a function of the team's hesitancy to push him beyond the five-inning threshold this season.

Ohtani said he understood the decision but added that he wanted to «pitch as long as possible.» Later, while addressing the Japanese media, Ohtani expressed an openness to playing the outfield to remain in the lineup after