Clayton Kershaw is Hall of Fame bound the second he becomes eligible you might as well go ahead and tattoo it on a baseball for posterity. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ franchise poster boy isn’t just elite; he’s in the argument for greatest pitcher of all time. Cooperstown is basically holding a seat with his name on it.
But then, inevitably, October shows up like a cruel reminder that even legends have skeletons. Kershaw’s postseason résumé reads like a cautionary tale: dominant all summer, but as soon as the playoffs roll around, the southpaw transforms into a cautionary fable. For years, the Dodgers didn’t have a plan for this recurring nightmare they just gritted their teeth and prayed he’d somehow pull it together. Now? Well, now they might actually have an ace hiding in plain sight: Shohei Ohtani, the two-way wunderkind returning to the mound after nearly two years, a potential fire extinguisher for Kershaw’s playoff flare-ups. Similar to how some teams face the consequences of earlier choices, as highlighted in 3 NFL teams that might regret skipping Arch Manning because of Quinn Ewers, the Dodgers are finally considering a backup plan to offset past vulnerabilities.
Of course, Ohtani isn’t exactly ready to throw complete games yet he’s slowly working his way back from a second Tommy John surgery. But the Dodgers have been easing him in, and he recently managed to make it through five innings, which in 2025 baseball terms is basically heroic. Manager Dave Roberts has sworn on his baseball glove not to push him further this season, but honestly, that’s more than enough to use him as a long-relief safety net if Kershaw melts down again on the biggest stage. It’s a strategy that echoes the careful decision-making in Roster Watch: 4 Chiefs who might actually survive cuts, balancing talent with risk.
The real problem historically? Sticking with Kershaw too long. L.A. has a history of watching the clock tick while their ace implodes under pressure. So why not have Ohtani ready to jump in during a Game 4 showdown? Apparently, that’s on the table, at least according to Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior. Just like Roman Wilson shuts up Steelers doubters with explosive preseason statement illustrates, sometimes emerging talent can silence skepticism when it matters most.
“It’s been discussed,” Prior admitted when asked about Ohtani possibly coming out of the bullpen come playoff time (via the Dan Patrick Show). Using the presumed four-time MVP to put out Kershaw’s postseason fires is “absolutely” within the realm of possibilities. Of course, it comes with risks Ohtani’s bat is still priceless but when it comes to preventing a meltdown in front of tens of thousands of screaming fans, you have to consider desperate measures. This is reminiscent of Jaxson Dart shines in preseason but Giants refuse to budge on Russell Wilson, where management must weigh potential against loyalty to established stars.
Statistically, Ohtani isn’t exactly in Cy Young territory yet 0-0 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.114 WHIP, and 32 strikeouts over 23.1 innings in 2025 but the flashes are there. His swing-and-miss stuff is returning, he looks more comfortable on the mound with each outing, and, ironically, the timing couldn’t be more perfect for a playoff lifeline. If the Dodgers can somehow survive Kershaw’s high-stakes comedy of errors, Ohtani might just be the plot twist they didn’t know they needed, much like NFL surprisingly spares CeeDee Lamb fine after accidental referee collision shows how narrow escapes can create unexpected opportunities.
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