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Dodgers Stick With Rushing Catching Ohtani Despite Past Issues
3 Jul
Summary
- Dalton Rushing will catch Shohei Ohtani on Friday against the Padres.
- Rushing and Ohtani had disagreements during a previous start.
- Ohtani began calling his own pitches after the second inning last week.
Dalton Rushing is set to catch Shohei Ohtani for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday against the San Diego Padres. This marks a return to the battery pairing after a previous start on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, where disagreements between the two surfaced. A passed ball in the second inning of that game resulted in a run, and Ohtani's desire to challenge calls was not met by Rushing, leading to visible frustration.
Following the game, Rushing accepted responsibility, stating his commitment to better serving Ohtani. He acknowledged Ohtani's status as the greatest player and vowed to move past the incident. Manager Dave Roberts noted Rushing's struggles with frustration but affirmed his understanding of his primary role serving the pitchers.
In a notable shift last Wednesday, Ohtani began calling his own pitches from the third inning onward, finding success with this approach. This change may persist for Friday's game. Ohtani's start has been pushed back two days, an effort to provide him with extra rest and help him recover from allowing nine earned runs over his last three starts, compared to only five earned runs in his first ten starts with Will Smith catching.
