LOS ANGELES — The options for Shohei Ohtani moving forward seem endless, like numbers on a lottery ticket or building a pie at a pizza joint with dozens of toppings.
Ohtani told members of the Japanese media on Tuesday that he is willing to do whatever the Dodgers need in October, even if that means vacating his designated hitter spot to pitch in relief and then move to the outfield later in the same game.
That kind of pitching move would eliminate the designated hitter spot for the team for the rest of the game.
It is a move that would help a beleaguered bullpen, but the playoffs are about taking down innings from the pitchers. Even though Ohtani’s starts have been limited to five innings maximum (to this point), that would be more than a one- or two-inning relief appearance.
With how the bullpen has been performing lately, the Dodgers would seem to be in a spot where anything is on the table for the playoffs.
So is Ohtani in the outfield a possibility?
“No,” Manager Dave Roberts said.
He winked when he said it.
Is an altered role a real possibility?
“It’s something we’re all talking about,” Roberts said when asked specifically if the three-time league MVP has more value as a starter or a reliever in the playoffs.
“I don’t know if it’s a pipe dream, but it’s very commendable from Shohei,” Roberts said. “… There’s a lot of variables, but to know that he can potentially run out there, it’s great. Maybe just in theory. But again, I love him for even throwing that out there.”
Considering wild scenarios has become mandatory with the Dodgers’ season-long bullpen struggles. In consecutive losses to the Phillies to open this week’s series, the bullpen gave up 13 of the 14 Philadelphia runs, including nine in Tuesday’s game after Ohtani had pitched five no-hit innings as the starter.
Entering Wednesday’s game, the Dodgers’ 4.30 ERA from the bullpen was 20th in the major leagues.
“I think before the results, (there) has to be confidence,” Roberts said. “I was thinking about this last night. The offense went through it recently, where we couldn’t find a way to get hits, to score runs, and there was some confidence (issues), some pressing. And I think right now our bullpen is going through it.
“So it’s just kind of trying to reset a mentality, a mindset. It’s not like the talent has now dissipated.”
A WILL AND A WAY
The Dodgers hope to get catcher Will Smith back from his hand contusion before the regular season ends, but there is no guarantee. What the club does know is that Smith will not be ready to come off the injured list when his minimum stint ends Saturday.
Smith isn’t even scheduled to face live pitching as part of his rehab until next week.
“You’re talking about not doing anything in progression of throwing, hitting as we sit here on Wednesday (and) that won’t happen through the weekend,” Roberts said. “So I think the earliest that would start to happen would be when we’re in Arizona.”
There is a similar feel to last season when first baseman Freddie Freeman was struggling with an ankle injury late in the season before he carried the team offensively by the time the World Series arrived.
“Once you get to (the playoffs), it’s kind of, it is what it is, and you just got to go,” Roberts said. “So I think that right now we’re trying to buy as much time as we can to put him in the best spot physically. But yeah, I don’t think he’s going to be 100 percent (in October).”
The Dodgers have not ruled out keeping Smith on the injured list through the end of the regular season.
HELP COMING
Right-hander Brock Stewart, who was acquired at the trade deadline from the Minnesota Twins to help the bullpen, could make his return from the injured list Saturday. He is scheduled to pitch Thursday in a minor-league rehab outing.
Roberts also offered that Kyle Hurt could make his season debut next week since he is close to a full recovery from Tommy John surgery. But Hurt has made just four career major-league appearances.
“We might have some tough decisions to make,” Roberts said. “But yeah, we’re getting close to the end, and certainly to get those two guys … in major league games I think would certainly be helpful. I know for certain that Brock will be in major-league games.”
MAJOR HONOR
The Dodgers named outfielder Eduardo Quintero and right-hander Christian Zazueta as their Minor League Outfielder and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.
Quintero, a 20-year-old native of Venezuela, batted .293 with 19 home runs and 69 RBIs in 113 games combined at two Class-A affiliates: Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes.
Zazueta, 20, from Mexico, also played for Rancho Cucamonga and Great Lakes this season, going a combined 7-2 with a 2.41 ERA over 17 starts and had 81 strikeouts in 67⅓ innings.
TAKING IT SLOW
Third baseman Max Muncy was held out of the starting lineup for the third time in four games after he was hit in the back of the helmet by a pitch Saturday at San Francisco. Kiké Hernandez started at third in all three games.
“(Muncy) was still a little fuzzy (Tuesday) but fine, and today feels better,” Roberts said. “So I think for me, I just wanted to give him an extra day.”
UP NEXT
Giants (RHP Logan Webb, 14-10, 3.34 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 11-8, 2.66 ERA), Thursday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
