Dodgers Urged to Make Ohtani's Pitching-Only Role Permanent

Shohei Ohtani dominates on the mound, sparking calls to limit his workload on start days.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:13pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting Shohei Ohtani's pitching and batting motions broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color, capturing the multifaceted nature of his game.Ohtani's dual-threat abilities are deconstructed into a cubist masterpiece, highlighting the complexity of managing his workload.Los Angeles Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers are being encouraged to make Shohei Ohtani's pitching-only role a permanent move after his dominant outing against the New York Mets, where he struck out 10 batters without hitting. Ohtani has not had a pitching-only start since 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels, and the success of this approach has led to calls for the Dodgers to limit his workload on days he takes the mound.

Why it matters

Ohtani's dual-threat abilities as both a power hitter and an ace starting pitcher have made him one of the most unique and valuable players in baseball. However, the physical toll of that workload has raised concerns about his long-term health and sustainability. Transitioning to a pitching-only role on his start days could help manage that workload and keep Ohtani fresh throughout the season.

The details

In his start against the Mets, Ohtani struck out 10 batters and allowed just one run and two hits in six innings. He did not hit in the lineup, with Kyle Tucker leading off and Dalton Rushing starting at designated hitter. This was the first time Ohtani has had a pitching-only start since May 2021 with the Angels. The dominant performance has led to calls, including from MLB Network analyst Dan O'Dowd, for the Dodgers to make this a permanent move for Ohtani on his start days.

  • Ohtani made his start against the Mets on Wednesday, April 17, 2026.
  • Ohtani last had a pitching-only start on May 28, 2021, with the Los Angeles Angels.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way superstar who pitches and hits for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is one of the most unique and valuable players in baseball.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will ultimately decide how to best utilize Ohtani's talents.

Dan O'Dowd

An MLB analyst for the MLB Network who has encouraged the Dodgers to make Ohtani's pitching-only role a permanent move.

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What they’re saying

“I would encourage him to not hit at all when he starts (pitching) the rest of the year.”

— Dan O'Dowd, MLB Analyst

What’s next

The Dodgers will continue to monitor Ohtani's workload and performance to determine if a pitching-only role on his start days is the best approach moving forward.

The takeaway

Ohtani's dominant pitching performance without hitting has sparked a renewed discussion about managing his workload to keep him fresh and healthy throughout the season. While the Dodgers will ultimately make the decision, the success of this approach could lead to it becoming a more permanent solution.