The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation has seen some changes over the past few weeks as injuries have mounted, and this upcoming series against the Colorado Rockies is no different.
Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that these will be the expected starters for the three-game series, per Maddie Lee of the Los Angeles Times:
Monday: RHP Emmet SheehanTuesday: LHP Eric LauerWednesday: RHP Shohei Ohtani
That’s a bit of a shift from the season-opening rotation, and not just due to the absences of the injured Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
Ohtani typically follows Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who pitched in a stellar fashion in Sunday’s 5-1 win, and Sheehan, who’s pitching Monday. But instead of Ohtani, the newly acquired Lauer will be on the bump on Tuesday.
May 5, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images
Ohtani will instead pitch on Wednesday, which Roberts said is due to the team’s off day on Thursday.
“Where we’re at, the benefit is the off day,” he said, per Lee.
Lee added that Roberts indicated that “there could be a point in the season where they instead space out his starts more.”
Ohtani is a two-way superstar, but the Dodgers are being cognizant of the strain both pitching and hitting could have on him.
It’s a long season, so, at least for portions of this season, Ohtani has been held out of the batting order on days he pitches.
He recently returned to two-way duty, though, and he’s indicated he feels he can continue to do so.
With that in mind, it’s possible Roberts was indicating that Ohtani could get fewer starts on the mound, or, at the very least, more time between starts.
The question is, how would that affect Ohtani’s Cy Young changes?
It’s the last major award he hasn’t won, and that’s his goal for this season.
He has a 0.73 ERA so far this season, though he’s a few innings short of qualifying for the National League lead.
His most recent start, while strong, was only five innings, and given that he’s in a six-man rotation, Ohtani might have to go longer to meet the criteria.
Do you think Shohei Ohtani can win the Cy Young?
