Ohtani in Philadelphia: healthy, grateful, and ready to attack Game 1
PHILADELPHIA — The Dodgers arrived in Philly with Shohei Ohtani lined up for the series opener. He spoke before workouts at Citizens Bank Park, calm as ever and careful with his words. He spoke to the media on Friday, first through interpreter Will Ireton and then directly in Japanese to his home country’s sports press.
“It was my first time experiencing the postseason last year as a position player,” Ohtani said. “This year I get to experience it as a pitcher. I’m really excited.” He added that the nerves are part of the deal but they do not define it. “Of course there are moments you feel nervous, but I am just happy we kept winning through the season and that I get to play again tomorrow. Being healthy at this time of year matters to me, and I am grateful for that.”
His September start against the Phillies mattered on a few levels. It was the night the rehab clock finally ran out. “I was glad I could finish the rehab progression by that point,” he said. “Ending the season healthy and completing that work was great on its own, and doing it against a great team helped.” He knows the bracket, too. “We came up through the Wild Card side, so we are in the challenger position. If we play our baseball against a strong opponent, I think we have enough to win.”
Availability is in the staff’s hands. His preparation is not. “For pitching and hitting I follow the coaching staff on when to go,” Ohtani said. “My intention as a starter is to go five or six innings, and if they want me to keep going I will be ready for that. If they think there are different situations where I could help, I will prepare for that as well.”
He respects the environment he is walking into. He also enjoys it. “The Philadelphia fan base brings a lot of energy for baseball,” he said. “The atmosphere in that stadium is great compared with other places.” Then he smiled. “And I always think the cheesesteak in the clubhouse is really good.”
Facing the same club again so quickly creates a chess match. Ohtani framed it as shared homework. “There are pros and cons for both sides when you face each other again,” he said. “We learn things each time. From the last game, both they and I studied how to attack. We take that into tomorrow.”
He was asked about October adrenaline and whether the fastball might jump. He gave a thoughtful answer on balance. “Some pitchers get excited and their velocity goes up, and some stay the same,” he said. “If I had to choose, I am probably the type whose velocity goes up in games like this. But being poised and balanced is important, so it depends on how well I compose myself out there.”
The comeback after elbow surgery has been a long road. He did not treat Friday like a victory lap, though there was gratitude in every sentence. “We cannot be certain how I will feel when I wake up tomorrow,” he said. “But I finished the season healthy and went through rehab the right way, and it looks like I can take the mound tomorrow. I want to appreciate that first. When I step on the mound, I think I will feel it again. On a stage like this, to pitch against a great opponent like the Phillies, I want to be thankful.”
Late-season rest was part of getting here. He said it was the right call. “I have no regrets about taking that day,” he explained. “For the team’s overall workload and my own, putting a rest day at the end made sense heading into the postseason. It was the right judgment.”
The conversation turned to Kyle Schwarber, who homered against the Dodgers in the regular season, and who Ohtani handled in their recent meeting. He treated it like any elite matchup. “He is a great hitter,” Ohtani said. “If I execute to my points, it should be fine. Their lineup will probably look different than last time, so I want to be careful with that and think about how to get the whole lineup out.”
Ohtani was also asked about Roki Sasaki’s return and what it means inside the room. His answer sounded like the view of a teammate, not a headline. “Everyone feels he makes us stronger,” he said. “The bullpen has new members and it is getting more solid. During the season Roki wasn’t in Los Angeles much because of rehab and minor league outings. To have him back healthy before an important stage is a big thing for the team.”
The principles for Game 1 are not complicated. First pitch strikes. Tempo. Let the defense work. He was asked again about workload and how far he expects to go, and he kept it practical. “It depends on how I am throwing,” Ohtani said. “If it is six, it could be seven. My job is to be ready to give the best I can for as long as they ask.”
He closed where he started, keeping the focus on health and opportunity more than any single storyline. “I am excited,” he said. “I am grateful to be healthy. We will bring our baseball to a great environment and do our best.”
That is the tone you want from your Game 1 starter. No drama. Just a plan and a ball to throw at 3:30 Pacific.
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