Dodgers Eye Careful Rotation Strategy as Ohtani Targets Two-Way Return by Opening Day
If there’s one thing the Dodgers have learned over the past few seasons, it’s this: don’t take starting pitcher health for granted - especially not in February. And as spring training inches closer, that mantra still holds true, particularly when it comes to Blake Snell.
The left-hander, who delivered postseason heroics not long ago, might not be ready for Opening Day on March 26. That’s not official, but it’s enough to keep expectations in check.
The Dodgers aren’t offering much in the way of clarity either. They’ve hinted at easing workloads early in the year, especially for Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, their high-profile offseason addition.
That could mean anything from a six-man rotation to creative use of openers or long relievers. What it won’t mean is overextending arms in April.
But while some rotation pieces remain question marks, Shohei Ohtani is doing his best to remove any doubt about his own availability. Though he won’t pitch in the World Baseball Classic, Ohtani has made it clear he expects to be ready to take the mound by Opening Day. If that happens, it’ll mark his first time pitching in a regular-season game since 2023 - his final year with the Angels.
The plan is for Ohtani to return to full two-way duties this season, something we haven’t seen since 2022. That year, he was a force on both sides of the ball: 28 starts, 166 innings, a 2.33 ERA, and a fourth-place finish in Cy Young voting.
At the plate, he was just as dominant, finishing second in AL MVP voting behind Aaron Judge. It was the season that turned the “can he really do both?”
question into a resounding yes.
Fast forward to now, and the question has evolved. Not whether Ohtani can be a two-way player - he’s already done that at an elite level - but whether he’s a better hitter or pitcher.
Offensively, he’s already checked every box: 50-homer seasons, MVP honors as a designated hitter, and historic production that’s redefined what’s possible at the plate. The only thing left to prove is whether he can stay healthy enough to pitch deep into a season again - and how the Dodgers will manage that journey.
With Ohtani’s return to the mound looming, the Dodgers are expected to be strategic with their rotation. That could open the door for young arms like Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan to compete for the final spot in what could be a six-man rotation. If Snell isn’t ready to go, that competition might expand to two rotation spots - or a hybrid approach that uses openers and long relievers to bridge the gap until the full staff is healthy.
Either way, the Dodgers have depth, and they’re going to use it. Early in the season, don’t be surprised if they lean into flexibility, keeping their top arms fresh for the long haul. Ohtani, even on a six-day schedule, figures to be a fixture - and if he’s anywhere close to the version we saw in 2022, that alone could tilt the balance of the National League.
There may be bumps along the way - managing Ohtani’s workload is no small task - but betting against him has never been wise. If he’s healthy, the Dodgers’ rotation doesn’t just get better. It becomes something entirely different: a blend of star power, depth, and versatility that few teams can match.
And if he’s healthy and dominant again on both sides of the ball? That fourth MVP might not just be possible - it might be inevitable.