GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carry on the Angels. Shohei Ohtani seems able to face his outdated membership.
The Dodgers’ $700 million (deferred) man continued his obliteration of the Cactus League by going 3-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and two runs within the Dodgers’ 7-4 win over the Rockies on Sunday afternoon at Camelback Ranch. He has reached base in seven consecutive plate appearances. And following the Dodgers’ scheduled off-day Monday, Ohtani is predicted to be within the lineup once more Tuesday when the Halos go to.
Although the storyline that day is sure to be Ohtani’s first sport in opposition to the membership he departed in free company, the extra significant story is that the Dodgers are planning to start out Ohtani at DH for that Tuesday evening sport adopted by a day sport Wednesday in opposition to the White Sox.
These can be Ohtani’s first video games on back-to-back days of the spring — one other vital step in his restoration from the September elbow surgical procedure that can preserve him on the shelf as a pitcher this 12 months.
“I believe he’s most likely forward of the place we anticipated,” supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned. “However even speaking to him this winter, he mentioned he felt unimaginable. He was inspired about his development. To see the place he’s at proper now, it’s clearly factor. However I don’t suppose he’s stunned by it.”
Ohtani has performed three spring video games and rocked all of them, compiling a .714/.778/1.429 slash line in 9 plate appearances.
On Sunday, Mookie Betts, Ohtani and Freddie Freeman rudely greeted Rockies starter Austin Gomber with consecutive singles within the first inning — a window into what we’re prone to see typically from the Dodgers’ Large Three atop the order this season.
“It’s relentless,” Roberts mentioned of that group.
Within the second inning, Ohtani simply missed his second homer of the spring when he smacked a run-scoring triple off the highest of the padded center-field wall. He drove residence one other run with a single within the third.
“He’s unbelievable, man,” Gomber mentioned.
And he’s prepared for the Angels.
Battle for No. 5 starter battle taking shapeRight-hander Emmet Sheehan performed mild catch on the aspect Sunday, which is an effective signal as he works his method again from shoulder soreness however not ok to reassert him as a favourite to land the Dodgers’ fifth beginning slot popping out of camp. Roberts mentioned Sheehan remains to be “weeks” away from sport exercise.
That opens the ground to others, together with right-handers Gavin Stone and Michael Grove, every of whom made his third outing of the spring Sunday in opposition to the Rockies.
Stone began and allowed two hits with a strikeout in three innings. He mentioned he placed on about 10-15 kilos over the offseason in an effort to assist him keep his velocity by the season.
The important thing to the burden achieve?
“Lot of Chipotle,” Stone mentioned.
Grove adopted Stone and gave up three runs and two hits with two walks and two Okay’s in 2 1/3 innings.
This got here on the heels of veteran Ryan Yarbrough, another choice within the fifth-starter battle, giving up a run (a Matt Mervis solo homer) on two hits with no walks and three strikeouts in opposition to the Cubs on Saturday.
Although Grove completed the 2023 season within the Dodgers’ bullpen, Roberts mentioned he’s nonetheless considered as a starter.
“With the ability to throw the curveball neutralizes a left-hander — and likewise the cutter,” Roberts mentioned of Grove.
