The Los Angeles Dodgers closed out the regular season with a milestone that has become almost routine for them: 100 wins. It’s a mark of consistency, depth, and the kind of sustained excellence that makes October feel less like a gamble and more like a formality. But for all the celebration, the real story heading into the playoffs is not the number on the scoreboard—it’s the man at the plate.
Shohei Ohtani, the two-way sensation who has redefined what’s possible in modern baseball, enters the postseason with something to prove. Not to anyone else, but to himself. After a season that placed him among the game’s elite, a few nagging physical issues—minor knee and bicep flare-ups—kept him out of the lineup during the final stretch. The result? A slight loss of timing at the plate, the kind of rust that can be deadly when facing October’s best arms.
“I’m not worried about the numbers,” Ohtani said through an interpreter after the final regular-season game. “I just want to be ready for the team. The playoffs are a different animal, and I need to be sharp.”
Shaking off the rust before the Division Series
Ohtani’s final regular-season appearances showed glimpses of his usual brilliance, but also moments of uncharacteristic hesitation. His swing, usually a blur of controlled violence, seemed a fraction slower. His timing on fastballs, normally impeccable, was a beat off. It’s the kind of thing that only a player of his caliber would notice, but in the postseason, the margin for error is razor-thin.
To address this, Ohtani has been spending extra time in the batting cage, focusing on drills to re-establish his rhythm. He’s not just swinging for the sake of swinging—he’s working on pitch recognition, on staying back, on trusting his hands. The goal is simple: to step into the batter’s box in the Division Series feeling as close to automatic as possible.
“He’s a perfectionist,” said manager Dave Roberts. “He knows what he needs to do, and he’s putting in the work. I have full confidence he’ll be ready.”
Pausing the pitching progression to focus on offense
One of the most talked-about decisions of the Dodgers’ postseason preparation has been the temporary halt of Ohtani’s pitching rehabilitation. After undergoing elbow surgery last year, Ohtani has been working his way back to the mound, but the organization has decided to put that on hold for now. The reasoning is practical: by focusing solely on his designated hitter duties, Ohtani can conserve energy and dedicate every ounce of his preparation to his offensive game.
It’s a move that makes sense for a team with World Series aspirations. Ohtani’s bat is too valuable to risk any distraction. And while fans may dream of seeing him pitch in October, the reality is that his arm isn’t ready for that kind of workload. For now, the Dodgers need him to be the most dangerous hitter in the lineup, not a part-time pitcher.
“We’re being smart about this,” Roberts added. “Shohei’s long-term health is the priority. But right now, we need him to be the best DH in the game.”
Championship expectations for a 100-win powerhouse
The Dodgers’ 100-win season is a testament to their organizational depth. From a rotation that has been bolstered by young arms to a lineup that can hurt you from top to bottom, this team was built for October. But regular-season success has never been the ultimate goal in Los Angeles. The franchise has won just one World Series title in the last three decades, and the pressure to deliver another is immense.
For Latino fans across the Americas, the Dodgers have always held a special place. From Fernando Valenzuela’s legendary 1981 season to the current wave of Latin American stars like Mookie Betts (who, while not Latino, has deep ties to the community) and Julio Urías, the team has long been a bridge between cultures. This year, the roster includes several players from Latin America, including Urías, who has been a key part of the rotation, and outfielder David Peralta, a native of Venezuela.
“The Dodgers have always had a special connection with the Latino community,” said Peralta. “We feel that support every night, whether we’re playing at home or on the road. It’s something we carry with us into October.”
As the postseason begins, the Dodgers are not just playing for a championship—they’re playing for a legacy. And with Ohtani at the center of it all, the story is far from over. The question isn’t whether they can win; it’s whether they can finally turn regular-season dominance into October glory.
For now, all eyes are on Ohtani. The batting cage sessions, the adjustments, the quiet determination—it all points to a player who refuses to let a few rough at-bats define his October. The Dodgers have 100 wins, but the real season starts now.
