Dave Roberts shuts down the Shohei Ohtani rumors

Shohei Ohtani is the best baseball player in the world, but part of his game that has been on the sidelines this entire season will remain there in the World Series. Ohtani has not pitched all season due to elbow surgery he underwent last September, and while Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said last month there was a possibility he would pitch in the World Series, Roberts confirmed Thursday that Ohtani would not pitch in the Fall Classic.

Instead of Ohtani, Jack Flaherty gets Game 1 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws Game 2 for Los Angeles. Furthermore, no starters have been confirmed.

“There is no way,” Roberts told reporters. “Thanks for asking.”

Despite not being able to pitch, Ohtani was crucial in getting the Dodgers to this point. He had one of the best regular seasons of all time, becoming the first player in MLB history to hit 50 home runs and steal 50 bases in a single season. Ohtani will likely be named National League MVP, his third MVP award.

In his very first postseason, Ohtani was as advertised, hitting .286 with three home runs and 10 RBI. However, he has had a bit of a strikeout problem, striking out 17 times in 53 plate appearances.

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The World Series starts on Friday and it is one of the most anticipated World Series of all time. The New York Yankees will return to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2009, and both likely MVPs will play in the World Series. If Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is named American League MVP and Ohtani wins the NL award, it will be the first time the league’s MVPs have faced off in the World Series since 2012.

The Yankees and Dodgers meet for the twelfth time in the World Series, with the Yankees leading 8-3 over the Dodgers. Their last meeting was in 1981, a Dodger victory in six games.

Game 1 of the World Series kicks off at 8:08 a.m. eastern time from Dodger Stadium. Gerrit Cole gets the start for New York and Jack Flaherty for Los Angeles.

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