Overview
- No formal decision has been made on whether Shohei Ohtani will pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
- Speaking at the Winter Meetings, Dave Roberts said he hopes Ohtani "probably just" hits rather than takes the mound.
- Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes said the club will convene internal meetings and then speak with players to discuss participation and any restrictions.
- Workload and health are central factors: Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw 173 2/3 regular-season innings plus 37 1/3 in the postseason in 2025, and Roki Sasaki missed more than four months with a right shoulder impingement.
- Los Angeles plans to use Ohtani in the 2026 rotation with extra rest between outings, with Roberts pointing to seven to nine days and an expectation of about 25 to 27 starts.