Shohei Ohtani was unexpectedly named the Dodgers’ starting pitcher for their opener against the Orioles on Friday night, taking the place of Tyler Glasnow.
Ohtani had been scheduled to start Wednesday but was scratched due to a chest cold, his start originally pushed to Monday. That all changed three hours before first pitch at Camden Yards, where he’ll make his 12th start as a Dodger and first since stretching out to five innings for the first time on Aug. 27.
Ohtani, 31, has posted a 4.18 ERA this year, his first as a pitcher since signing with the Dodgers. The front-runner for the NL MVP Award has also hit .279 with 46 home runs and 87 RBIs in 137 games as a designated hitter.
The Dodgers did not immediately give a reason for scratching Glasnow, who tied a season high with seven innings pitched in his last start, last Saturday against the D-backs. Glasnow has won just one of his 14 starts this year but has pitched well since returning from a bout of right shoulder inflammation on July 9, posting a 3.02 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings spanning nine starts.
