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Dodgers plan for Shohei Ohtani to hit on days when he pitches

March 25, 2026

LOS ANGELES — After two MVPs and two World Series titles in two seasons with the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani has a route to add even more hardware this season.

Ohtani will open the season as a pitcher for the first time since 2023 and Manager Dave Roberts is setting his expectations high – as in, Cy Young Award high.

“Oh yeah, because of just talent, ability, Will (Smith at catcher),” Roberts said. “If he does (what is expected) he’ll be in the conversation, absolutely. I have no doubt about that.”

If it were to happen, it would be an unconventional run to the award. Then again, everything about Ohtani bucks convention.

Coming off an American League MVP season with the Angels in 2023, Ohtani grabbed another MVP in his first season with the Dodgers in 2024 and did it while only serving as the designated hitter. He added pitching duties in June of last season following an elbow injury and finished the campaign with yet another MVP.

Ohtani now chases a fourth consecutive MVP honor, which has only been done by Barry Bonds (2001-04).

Because of the sporadic pitching schedule in recent seasons, the Dodgers will monitor Ohtani’s workload closely. The club is open to any and all scenarios for keeping Ohtani fresh, but at the outset anyway, he will continue to be a hitter on the days when he pitches.

“Not right now,” Roberts said of taking Ohtani out of the DH spot on start days. “I know that he really loves to hit and so I think until we see or learn otherwise, if it’s compromised at all, if ever, then I think we’ll just kind of move forward.”

Limited innings when Ohtani starts is an option, but with questions surrounding right-hander Roki Sasaki, the bullpen might not be ready to absorb an extra workload. Giving Ohtani six or even seven days of rest between starts has advantages but complicates the rotation order.

“There’s a lot of other variables that you really can’t kind of answer right now,” Roberts said. “But I guess once he gets going, managing him to win the game, but also just being mindful of the workload, (it’s about) what he’s done, what he’s capable of.”

Working against a plan to take it slow and deliberate this season figures to be Ohtani himself. Ohtani already has said he wants a full schedule of pitching and hitting, although he added that “being healthy the whole year” was the biggest priority.

“I think his desire is high to do that,” Roberts said of Ohtani’s desire for a full season of regular starts. “I think it’s very realistic to do that with the idea that there’s time to give them a little extra rest in between starts.

“I don’t think anyone knows how that’s going to look, but I think it’s safe to say that it’s not a (guaranteed) situation of every sixth day, every seventh day. So the desire is high. I think it’s realistic. Then the bigger question is, how are we going to manage that and navigate it?”

LATE ADDITION

The Angels are set to add left-hander Joey Lucchesi to the roster, according to a source, and the left-hander is expected to be available for Thursday’s season opener against the Houston Astros.

The Angels will have to make a 40-man roster move to make the addition official. Spots on the 40-man roster are also expected to be needed for infielders Adam Frazier and Jeimer Candelario.

The Angels’ bullpen appeared set to include a pair of left-handers in Drew Pomeranz and Brent Suter. Pomeranz entered Tuesday with a 9.64 ERA in six spring appearances, while Suter had a 7.36 ERA in seven appearances.

Lucchesi, 32, moved into a full-time relief role for the first time last season and was 0-1 with a 3.76 ERA in 38 appearances for the San Francisco Giants. He was back with the Giants on a minor league deal this spring before he was released Sunday.

In seven major league seasons with the San Diego Padres (2018-20), New York Mets (2021-24) and Giants, Lucchesi is 23-27 with a 4.07 ERA in 119 appearances (77 starts).

AROUND THE BASES

Angels infielder Vaughn Grissom (wrist) will start the season on the injured list but did progress to hitting off a tee and taking ground balls on Tuesday. … Angels center fielder Mike Trout is as mobile as ever, according to Manager Kurt Suzuki, and is ready for his return to center field this season. “He’s great,” Suzuki said. “I think more with Mike, it’s mentally, right? Everything trickles down to the body. If you’re good with the mind, he can relax the body.” … The Dodgers are expected to divide their playing time at catcher between Smith and Dalton Rushing the same as they did last season. “I’m not going to just compromise Will Smith’s playing time just because we have a young up-and-coming guy. So we’ll see. I think it’s going to be fluid,” Roberts said.

UP NEXT

Diamondbacks (RHP Zac Gallen, 13-15, 4.83 ERA in 2025) at Dodgers (RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 12-8, 2.49 ERA in 2025), Thursday, 5:30 p.m., NBC (Ch. 4)/Peacock, 570 AM

Angels (RHP Jose Soriano, 10-11, 4.26 ERA in 2025) at Astros (RHP Hunter Brown, 12-9, 2.43 ERA in 2025), Thursday, 1:10 p.m. PT, FDSN West, 830 AM

Staff writer Jeff Fletcher contributed to this report

Orange County Register

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Dodgers plan for Shohei Ohtani to hit on days when he pitches

LATE ADDITION

AROUND THE BASES

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