#shohei-ohtani

#shohei-ohtani

Shohei Ohtani experienced a new first with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday as he took the mound against the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. It was Ohtani's first postseason start as a pitcher, and he managed to throw six quality innings in the Dodgers' 5-3 comeback win over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Ohtani allowed three runs and three hits with nine strikeouts against one walk on 89 pitches.

Ohtani's first time pitching in October was generally a success as he completed six innings and finished with nine strikeouts. All three runs Ohtani allowed in the quality start came in the second inning and due in large part to Hernández failing to cut off a ball in the right-center field gap. It resulted in an RBI triple for J.T. Realmuto, who later scored on a sacrifice fly.

"I'm aware that there are pitchers who get excited and their velo goes up, and there's some it just stays pretty much the same," Ohtani said. "If I were to pick a side, I'm probably the one that really the velo goes up. But that being said, I need to make sure I'm poised and balanced. And it's just going to be how well I can compose myself out there as well."

"We don't know yet," Roberts said. "I think it just kind of gives us some options. But the likelihood of him starting a playoff game in that first series are very high."

"I think they missed the mark with it," Friedman said of the rule.