The Los Angeles Dodgers plan to deploy Shohei Ohtani as a traditional starting pitcher without a pitch limit to open the 2026 season, manager Dave Roberts said. However, the team will implement a hybrid rotation structure that provides Ohtani and other starters with additional rest days throughout the year.
Roberts indicated the Dodgers will not use a standard five-man rotation to begin the season. The team intends to incorporate spot starts that give Ohtani six to eight days between appearances. This approach aims to keep the two-way star fresh while building up his workload gradually.
\"The thought is to have Shohei being used as a regular starter, but it\'s not going to be a regular five-man rotation,\" Roberts said. \"I do feel that giving him six, seven, eight days off to kind of allow him to continue to stay rested and build up, I think that\'s in our process.\"
Starting pitching depth positions the Dodgers to employ an expanded rotation early in the season. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Emmet Sheehan all spent time on the injured list last year. The organization will prioritize preserving pitcher health following another World Series championship run.
Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Justin Wrobleski and Ben Casparius could compete for spot start opportunities during spring training. Roster flexibility will influence the final rotation structure, which cannot be determined until the bullpen composition is finalized.
\"We just have some guys that have earned opportunities to make starts,\" Roberts said. \"And if we feel, at the end of the day, getting Yamamoto, Roki, potentially Emmet, Shohei some extra days rest and there\'s not a cost, that\'s the conversation we\'re going to have.\"
The Dodgers have not decided whether Ohtani will pitch for Japan in next year\'s World Baseball Classic. Ohtani is confirmed to represent Samurai Japan but may serve solely as a designated hitter. General manager Brandon Gomes acknowledged the pitching commitment presents challenges for the organization.