The Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to finish off the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Wild Card Series , and Dave Roberts made it clear that Shohei Ohtani is at the center of the team’s October strategy . Before the second game of the Dodgers-Reds clash , Roberts explained that if Los Angeles ends the series in two, Ohtani will pitch in one of the first two games of the NLDS. The manager stressed that nothing is guaranteed, but the plan reflects his confidence in Ohtani’s readiness for the MLB postseason .

For the Dodgers, the move represents the payoff they envisioned when Ohtani signed . His ability as a two-way star changes how opponents prepare. It also changes how Roberts manages his rotation. Facing Ohtani on the mound in a short series raises the stakes for the Reds. They

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