The Los Angeles Dodgers should not pitch Shohei Ohtani in the playoffs

Breakdown of John Smoltz's Analysis

Former MLB pitcher John Smoltz recently voiced his opinion that the Los Angeles Dodgers should not pitch Shohei Ohtani in the playoffs. Smoltz, who is now a baseball analyst for Fox Sports, believes that Ohtani is too valuable to the Dodgers as a hitter and that pitching him in the playoffs could jeopardize his health and effectiveness at the plate.

Ohtani's importance to the Dodgers' offense

Ohtani is one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball. He is a switch-hitter who can hit for power and average. In 2022, he batted .283 with 34 home runs and 95 RBIs. He also stole 26 bases. Ohtani's bat is a key part of the Dodgers' offense and losing him for any length of time would be a major blow.

The risk of injury

Pitching is a demanding activity that can put a lot of stress on the body. Ohtani has already had some injury problems this season, including a shoulder injury that caused him to miss a start in July. Pitching in the playoffs could further aggravate these injuries and put Ohtani's health at risk.

The impact on Ohtani's hitting

Pitching can also have a negative impact on a hitter's performance. When a pitcher throws, they are using different muscles than when they are hitting. This can lead to fatigue and soreness, which can make it difficult to hit effectively. Ohtani is a good hitter, but pitching in the playoffs could hurt his performance at the plate.

For all of these reasons, the Dodgers should not pitch Shohei Ohtani in the playoffs. He is too valuable to the team as a hitter and pitching him could jeopardize his health and effectiveness at the plate.