Dodgers Expect Healthier Shohei Ohtani for NLDS Opener
A long break before October reportedly has Ohtani trending the right direction at the top of the lineup, per ESPN.
Short digest today, so let's keep it short and sharp.
Per ESPN, the Dodgers are expecting a healthier Shohei Ohtani at the top of the lineup when the NLDS opens. The report says the extended layoff before the postseason worked in their favor here — that's the kind of break a coach dreams about. You don't get many chances all season to just let a guy's body catch up. Take it.
Film room
Here's the fundamental: your best player has to be upright and right before the lights get brightest. Doesn't matter how deep your roster is if the top of the order isn't right. A healthier Ohtani at the top of that lineup changes the math for every pitcher the Dodgers see in October — it's not just one bat, it's the whole game plan for the other dugout.
That's all we've got from the wire on the Dodgers right now. Short report, but it's the right one to lead with — health at the top of your order is the whole ballgame this time of year. We'll keep an eye on how he looks when it's time to play for real.
