The 2024 World Series is expected to be one of the most evenly matched in recent memory. The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees have star power, depth and quality pitching. In a series this close, both teams are looking for every possible advantage. Such as being able to use one of the best baseball players as a pitcher. So would the Dodgers consider bringing Shohei Ohtani to the mound to help bolster their bullpen?

It’s an intriguing possibility; Ohtani is more than a year removed from a second arm surgery, has been rehabbing all season and has experience closing out big games.

Before the start of the series on Friday night, team president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spoke about the possibility of Ohtani being available in the most important series of the season.

LOS ANGELES – Shohei Ohtani reacts as teammate Tommy Edman (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits an RBI single against the New York Mets inning of game 2 of a National League Championship Series playoff baseball game at the Dodger Stadium on Monday, October 14. 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

Dodgers say Shohei Ohtani will not be available to pitch in the World Series

Friedman confirmed in an interview on ESPN Radio that Ohtani will not be part of the organization’s pitching plans regardless of how the series plays out.

“He’s a one-way player for the next 10 days,” Friedman explained. “And then he’ll be a two-way player again.”

Manager Dave Roberts was equally blunt: “There’s no way, none at all. Thanks for asking,” he said in response to a question about Ohtani’s pitching.

If there’s a weakness on the Dodgers’ roster, it’s pitching. Their starters generally haven’t gotten deep into the games, and there will likely be a bullpen game in game four of the series. That wasn’t Friedman’s intention, but injuries to Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May have robbed Los Angeles of its depth. Ohtani’s pitching would have added depth to a pen that will certainly be heavily relied upon against the Yankees’ fearsome lineup.

On the other hand, Ohtani’s had the best offensive season of his career while focusing solely on hitting. It’s hard to justify messing with a formula that has worked to perfection so far.

Still, he’s only in the first year of a 10-year contract, and the Dodgers hope that by remaining cautious now, he can help them on the mound in the postseasons to come.