Dodgers Make Final Decision on Shohei Ohtani Pitching During NLDS Series vs. Phillies
The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to repeat as MLB champions, but they will face a much tougher road this postseason.
They earned themselves a bye last season, however they dipped a bit and had to brave a trip to the National League Wild Card series this year.
The Dodgers easily knocked off the Cincinnati Reds in the series, winning by a combined nine runs in the two games.
Now, they will head East to take on the Philadelphia Phillies, but not before manager Dave Roberts made a big announcement .
Roberts told reporters in his postgame press conference that star pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani will take the mound for game one in Philadelphia.
Ohtani didn’t have the luxury of making the playoffs when he was with the Los Angeles Angels and was unable to pitch for the Dodgers last year because he was still recovering from an injury.
Now, he gets the opportunity to showcase his unprecedented talents on the game’s biggest stage.
The Japanese superstar has dominated both at the plate and on the mound in his career, but has ultimately been somewhat of a part-time pitcher due to frequent arm injuries.
Los Angeles did a tremendous job of managing his workload this season and now Ohtani will finally show his true impact. He is currently batting .333 with two home runs and four RBIs in just two games, so he is giving fans hope for a special playoff run.
The Phillies have a gauntlet of talented hitters — mainly infielders Bryce Harper and Trea Turner and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber — so Ohtani will have his work cut out for him.
The series between Los Angeles and Philadelphia begins this Saturday as two of the most expensive rosters in baseball face off.
With perennial All-Stars and MVP candidates across the board, the Phillies-Dodgers showdown could be one for the ages.
Red Sox rookie Connelly Early sets Boston franchise record not matched since Babe Ruth in 1916
These days, it feels like Babe Ruth's name has come up in a lot of MLB hitting record chases with the likes of Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Kyle Schwarber and Shohei Ohtani.
But how about turning the clocks back a bit further to Ruth's days as a pitcher with the Boston Red Sox.
That's where Connelly Early takes us on Thursday.
The Red Sox rookie lefty is set to start Thursday night against the New York Yankees in the decisive third game of the AL Wild Card series between bitter rivals, a rivalry that is mostly based in the trade of Ruth and the ensuing Curse of the Bambino.
But before Ruth was traded, he was a dominant pitcher for Boston.
And in 1916, Ruth started Game 2 of the World Series at 21 years and 246 days.
No pitcher since then has started a playoff game for the Red Sox even within two years of that, until now.
On this night, Early will be 23 years and 182 days. Still older than Ruth, but younger than anyone else to start a playoff game for Boston since Ruth.
Now it's up to Red Sox and Yankees fans to decide which team gets a good omen out of this and which team gets a bad omen out of it.
Maybe Boston should see if Early can hit a home run or two, too.
In reality, it's set up to be a classic showdown in Yankee Stadium. Two rookies take the mound with Early and Cam Schlittler. And one of baseball's most well-known teams will advance while sending their heated rival home for the winter.
