Dodgers’ Dave Roberts: ‘Pick Your Poison’ When Facing Angels’ Shohei Ohtani

The Los Angeles Angels dropped the opening game of their two-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but now turn to Shohei Ohtani to salvage the series and avoid a sweep.

The Dodgers hold a record of 40-33, while the Angels have a 41-34 mark. The pair of Southern California clubs have trended in opposite directions as of late, as the Dodgers struggle to find consistency with their pitching.

The series also marked the first time since 2014 that the Angels have a better record than the Dodgers when they pair up in the Freeway Series.

Manager Phil Nevin has been fortunate enough to pencil in Shohei Ohtani in the starting lineup and on his normal schedule on the mound. With a 6-2 record, 3.29 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP as a starting pitcher, he’s seemed to hammer out a lot of the issues that plagued him early on while remaining one of the game’s most prolific hitters.

“Yeah, that’s a great question,” Roberts said when asked if he would rather face Ohtani as a hitter or pitcher. “Given the choice. I’d probably rather him just hit because it’s only four at-bats, where you’re looking at 110 pitches, that’s pretty daunting.”

So far in June, Ohtani has logged a .400/.500/.938 slash with nine homers and 20 RBI, something that Roberts has certainly taken note of.

“I have. Yeah, I have,” Roberts answered when asked if he’s followed what Ohtani has been doing at the plate recently. “It’s just pick your poison with that one.”

Roberts giving high praise to Ohtani is not surprising as he is universally praised across the sport, but the Dodgers are also considered the favorites to sign the two-way star in the offseason, so his comments may show some insight into the organization’s thinking.

Is the Freeway Series between Angels and Dodgers a rivaly?

The Dodgers have defeated the Angels seven straight times coming into Wednesday. Although some teams are able to develop a rivalry with their crosstown club, Roberts doesn’t view the Angels as one of the Dodgers’ rivals.

“I think it’s more just geography driven,” Roberts said. “I think it’s a thing in the sense of Southern California and local Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles and Orange County, but being in different leagues, obviously not the same division. But I enjoy going down there and playing the Angels, certainly.”