In a surprise move, Dodgers are starting Ohtani against Orioles

BALTIMORE—Around 3:30 this afternoon, Orioles interim manager Tony Mansolino was walking off the field from early batting practice when his watch buzzed with the news that Shohei Ohtani would be starting Friday night’s game for the Los Angeles Dodgers instead of Tyler Glasnow, who has back tightness.

Ohtani was supposed to pitch Wednesday at Pittsburgh, but was scratched and rescheduled for Monday night until the surprising news.

“I thought they were messing with me,” Mansolino said. “But apparently not.”

Ohtani, who’s 1-1 with a 4.18 ERA in 11 starts, faced the Orioles twice while with the Los Angeles Angels, allowing four runs on five hits in five innings in a 10-6 loss on August 25^th, 2021. That game snapped a 19-game Orioles losing streak.

On May 15, 2023 Ohtani allowed five runs on four hits in seven innings in a 5-4 win, a game in which he was 4-for-5 and hit a three-run home run against Grayson Rodriguez.

As a hitter, Ohtani has 46 home runs, 87 RBIs and a .993 OPS.

“He’s one of a kind,” Mansolino said. “We haven’t seen anybody like him—Babe Ruth? At some point, it sounds like Babe stopped pitching. Who else has done that? That’s been it … It’s a guy that’s a borderline ace when he’s healthy. He’s one of the top three offensive guys in the game. He might be one of one.”

Notes: Catcher Gary Sánchez, on the 60-day injured list with a sprained right knee, is working out with the Orioles for five days and then will be sent on a rehab assignment, Mansolino said. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, on the 10-day injured list with right wrist inflammation, will go on a rehab assignment next week. Jordan Westburg’s sprained right ankle remains “day-to-day,” according to Mansolino. Because the injury is to the inside of his ankle, his healing has been slower. … Adley Rutschman, who’s on the injured list with a strained right oblique has begun to hit off a tee. … Right-handed reliever Elvin Rodriguez was claimed off waivers by Arizona