The in Los Angeles continue to slowly accumulate the hei ohtani shoes as pitchers.
At this point, the feel that the innings they get from Otani are a bonus as they don’t count towards one of the 13 pitchers allowed on the team’s active roster.
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Otani pitched just one inning in each of his first two starts. In his latest start last Saturday, he pitched two innings against the Kansas City Royals.
Otani’s fourth start was scheduled for this Saturday – Otani’s 31st birthday – manager Dave Roberts has revealed the time for the two-way star to go on the mound.
Roberts told reporters Friday that the plan is to pitch two more innings on Saturday. This brings his season to up to six innings with four starts.
Otani struggled in his first start with the San Diego Padres, requiring 28 pitches to pass the first inning while allowing two hits and one run.
He has been dominant ever since, requiring a total of 45 pitches to pitch three scoreless innings. Otani allowed one hit and one walk with three strikeouts against the Washington Nationals and Royals.
For now, Otani continues to be a leadoff hitter on pitching day. However, Roberts said the team is considering defeating him to give him time between his first inning on the mound and his first at-bat.
But before they worry about Saturday’s start, the Otani and the try to start a series with the Houston Astros in victory on Friday night. Ben Casparius, who played as Otani piggyback, begins Friday and leaves a question mark on how the will fill the seven innings behind Otani on Saturday.
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Photo credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Image
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