Dodgers finally make definitive decision on Shohei Ohtani pitching in MLB playoffs

The Dodgers have been equivocating a little too much for comfort lately. The prime issue has been, unsurprisingly, the pitching they'll take into the NLDS, as they've lost multiple starters to injury and the once ever-shifting bullpen has started to do so again — thanks to injuries, naturally. The two players in question have been Shohei Ohtani and Tony Gonsolin, and the Dodgers have opened and shut the door multiple times on both players' chances of pitching in the postseason.

Last week, Dave Roberts said that Gonsolin won't be on the playoff roster "unless 'something really unforeseen' happens," so that door is mostly closed, but still a little ajar. Gonsolin underwent Tommy John in September of last year, and although he did go through all of the requisite steps toward a return, throwing him back in for the postseason seems like too much of a risk.

The decision making on Ohtani has seemed to go even more back-and-forth. For the longest time, the Dodgers responded with a decisive 'no' whenever they were asked about bringing Ohtani back as a pitcher in October. That remained the party line until mid-September, when Roberts teased a possible Ohtani return. It's gone back and forth since then, and Ohtani even seemed to hint at miscommunication between himself and the team.

Now, though, it seems like the Dodgers are finally sticking to one lane. Brandon Gomes, one of the big bosses, said he "doesn't anticipate" Ohtani pitching this month.

Dodgers shut down Shohei Ohtani postseason pitching rumors once and for all

We've always been on the side of Ohtani pitching this year not being a good idea, and it's nice that the Dodgers have finally seemed to get on the same page. He's almost exactly a year removed from elbow surgery and has not faced live hitting. The Dodgers can't make a Mookie Betts-esque mistake here, wherein they put too much pressure on their stars just by virtue of them being stars.

Mookie Betts is a very good baseball player, but that didn't mean he was a good shortstop. Shohei Ohtani is a very good baseball player, but that doesn't mean he can come straight off of injury to pitch in the postseason.

The bullpen, where Ohtani would likely end up if he was going to pitch this year, isn't even where the the bulk of the Dodgers' pitching problems lie. The Dodgers have the fourth-best team ERA in the major leagues this year. Although they recently lost Brusdar Graterol again, they've dealt without him for most of the year. Brent Honeywell is absent, but rookie Edgardo Henriquez has held the roster spot down well enough without him.

LA is totally fine without Ohtani in the bullpen, but they definitely wouldn't be without him in the lineup. They can't afford to lose Ohtani the hitter ever, but especially not because they unnecessarily hurried his pitching timeline.