Overview

• President Andrew Friedman confirmed the postseason plan Monday, noting relief use remains a contingency for specific October situations.
• The club has capped Shohei Ohtani around five innings per outing and continues to give extended rest, including 11 days before his Tuesday start against the Phillies.
• Under MLB’s two-way rule, entering as a reliever would cost Los Angeles its designated hitter spot once Ohtani leaves the mound, a penalty Friedman and Dave Roberts say discourages midgame usage.
• Manager Dave Roberts says Ohtani is viewed as a starter for now, with pitching coach Mark Prior also open to selective bullpen work, and past examples such as Walker Buehler’s 2024 title-clinching save inform that flexibility.
• Rotation alignment and bullpen needs will drive any relief decision, with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow anchoring the postseason rotation and Ohtani at 3.75 ERA with 49 strikeouts in 36 innings since returning to the mound.