Shohei Ohtani’s streak of seven consecutive Wednesday pitching starts ends this week, as the Dodgers star won’t pitch the series finale against the A’s in West Sacramento, the team announced on Tuesday.
Wednesday is the Dodgers’ sixth game in a stretch of 13 game days in a row, and moving him to Friday against the San Diego Padres eliminates the possibility he might be needed to pitch on five days rest during
this stretch, something he’s only done once this season.
Seven Wednesdays in a row for Ohtani is the longest streak of pitching starts on the same day of the week in Dodgers franchise history. Last year, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (Fridays, March 28-May 2) and Roki Sasaki (Saturdays, March 29-May 3) each had six-start streaks.
Roster move
Being in a 13-game stretch often means many trips for the fresh arm express, and Tuesday was no exception with Wyatt Mills getting called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to replace Jonathan Hernández, who was designated for assignment.
Hernández was often used in mop-up situations at the end of lopsided games, and his 0.167 average leverage index is the lowest in the Dodgers bullpen among pitchers with at least five appearances. Those innings he soaked up produced an 8.15 ERA and 5.90 xERA in 12 games, with 15 strikeouts and 12 walks in 17 2/3 innings.
Hernández getting designated for assignment opens up the 40-man roster slot the Dodgers will need when they activate Evan Phillips off the 60-day injured list some time soon. In the interim comes Wyatt Mills, who probably got to West Sacramento by plane, though it’d be easy to think he walked to Sutter Health Field. Mills in four mop-up appearances for the Dodgers this year has seven walks and one strikeout in his 3 1/3 innings, with three runs allowed.
Mills has excelled in Triple-A this season, posting a 2.64 ERA in 26 games for Oklahoma City, with 45 strikeouts and 16 walks in 30 2/3 innings, with six saves.
