Dave Roberts Facing Shohei Ohtani Decision Away From Dodgers

Ohtani has made 13 starts on the mound. In those 79 ⅔ innings pitched, he is 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA. He has struck out 86 and walked 24. 

The N.L. All-Star team will once again be managed by Ohtani’s manager, Dave Roberts. The Dodgers skipper has a choice to make whether the superstar takes the mound in the game or not in addition to hitting.

If Ohtani were to pitch in the game, it would have to be as the starting pitcher. Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times said that Roberts is yet to make a call.

With arguably better starters in Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski available, the decision will undoubtedly be polarizing. While Ohtani’s pitching statistics are fantastic, he does not quite have the volume that Sánchez and Misiorowksi do.

In any case, that 1-2-3 punch will be incredibly difficult for an admittedly weaker American League batting order to face. It is likely that the New York Yankees ’ Cam Schlittler will start on the mound for the A.L.

With Ohtani at the helm, the Dodgers are 54-30 this season heading into an early week series with the Athletics. They lead the National League West by 10 games over the San Diego Padres and have the best record in baseball.

Los Angeles will potentially send six other players to the All-Star Game in Freddie Freeman , Will Smith, Mookie Betts , Max Muncy, Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández.