Shohei Ohtani, tied for the National League lead with 45 home runs, will make his 11th start as the Dodgers aim to complete a series sweep. Manager Dave Roberts expects Ohtani to pitch through at least five innings. Ohtani has recorded a 7.30 ERA over his last three starts (12.1 innings) after posting a 2.40 ERA before August, allowing four runs in 15 innings. Dodgers pitching depth remains limited entering the postseason push. Pitching coach Mark Prior said using Ohtani out of the bullpen in October has been discussed, but DH-reliever rules complicate that option. Ohtani leads the NL in slugging, OPS, OPS+ and home runs.
"It's big," Roberts said. "Tomorrow's going to be a nice afternoon and I expect him to go out there and get through five innings."
"It's been discussed," said Prior. "It's really understanding the rules of him coming in as a reliever and knowing that because of the rule and the way it's set up right now as a starter, he can come out of the game and still maintain as a DH. But he comes in as a reliever, you got to find that line of where the game is because you can't have him come in in the sixth and then take him out as a pitcher in the seventh and then keep him as a DH."
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