Ohtani Steps In as Dodgers Scratch Glasnow Against Orioles
The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled a surprise move just hours before their series opener against the Baltimore Orioles. Shohei Ohtani, who had recently been dealing with a chest cold, was suddenly named the starting pitcher, replacing Tyler Glasnow, who had been scheduled to take the mound. No immediate explanation was given for Glasnow being scratched, which made the switch even more unexpected.
This appearance marked Ohtani’s 12th start as a Dodger and his first outing since August 27, when he managed to stretch to five innings for the first time this season. At 31 years old, Ohtani has been balancing both sides of his remarkable two-way game. On the mound, he’s carried a 4.18 ERA in his return to pitching after nearly two years off due to a second elbow surgery. At the plate, his dominance has remained clear—batting .279 with 46 home runs and 87 RBIs through 137 games. His offensive performance has kept him firmly in the National League MVP race.
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The Dodgers’ decision came after Ohtani had been scratched from his original start on Wednesday against the Pirates because of illness. Manager Dave Roberts later explained that while Ohtani could handle designated hitter duties, pitching five innings while under the weather was considered too taxing. Even so, Ohtani managed two hits in that game while batting leadoff, showing that his swing hadn’t been slowed by the chest cold.
Fans had expected Ohtani’s next pitching appearance to come on Monday against the Rockies, but the sudden shift put him back on the mound earlier than planned. The move was significant because Ohtani has been slowly building up his pitching stamina. Since making his debut on June 16 with just one inning, he has worked through 10 more starts, finally reaching that five-inning milestone against the Reds in late August, where he earned his first pitching win in a Dodgers uniform.
Meanwhile, Glasnow’s situation added a layer of intrigue. Just days earlier, he had tied his season high by pitching seven strong innings against the Diamondbacks. Despite his struggles with run support—he has only one win in 14 starts—Glasnow has quietly been effective since returning from shoulder inflammation in July, putting up a 3.02 ERA and racking up 58 strikeouts in just over 50 innings. His sudden removal left questions unanswered, but the team kept details under wraps.
For the Dodgers, the focus now shifts to Ohtani’s performance and how he can handle an increased workload heading into the postseason. While his pitching numbers have yet to match his career bests, the potential for him to regain full form before October is something both the club and fans are eagerly watching. With his bat already anchoring the lineup, every inning he adds from the mound could prove crucial in Los Angeles’ playoff push.
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