bye? Dodgers need bye to save Shohei Ohtani
Los Angeles Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Dodgers are on track to clinch the National League West title soon, marking their 14th consecutive postseason appearance, a major league record.
- A postseason bye is crucial for the Dodgers primarily to provide Shohei Ohtani with much-needed rest and recovery time from multiple injuries, as he continues to be managed rather than fully healed.
- While the Dodgers have won the World Series without Ohtani pitching, his offensive contributions have been vital, and the team’s priority is to get him back to hitting form for the playoffs.
- Ohtani has struggled recently at the plate but remains confident in his ability to improve, emphasizing the importance of balancing his playing time to avoid aggravating injuries.
- The Dodgers hold a two-game lead for the final NL playoff bye and face mostly losing-record teams in their remaining schedule, making a Sept. 29 bye a key date for maximizing Ohtani’s effectiveness in October.
