Roberts: 'Not going to close the door' on using Ohtani as playoff reliever

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts hasn't ruled out the idea of Shohei Ohtani pitching out of the bullpen this postseason.

"I wouldn't say no way ... I'm not going to close the door 100%," Roberts said, according to Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani hasn't pitched for the Dodgers since signing a 10-year, $700-million contract in December. The two-way sensation wasn't expected to pitch in 2025 after undergoing elbow surgery last September.

The 30-year-old has never pitched in relief outside of the World Baseball Classic. He's progressed well during his rehabilitation and threw a successful bullpen session Aug. 24.

While the excitement of the Dodgers' prized player coming out of the bullpen to shut down the opposition in the playoffs sounds like a storybook moment, Roberts remains realistic about the chances of it happening.

"If I was scripting a movie or writing a book, it would be a no-brainer that he comes out of rehabilitation and throws the last pitch," Roberts said.

"The problem is, in reality, he hasn't thrown a leverage pitch in over a year. If he were to come out, and it does go awry, it's not worth (a) potential injury. You just cannot duplicate the stress of that one inning. I just don't think it's worth it."