LOS ANGELES -- Heading into the postseason, the Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani needed to make a decision on whether or not the two-way star would take his rehab process to the next level by facing live hitters.

If Ohtani progressed to throwing off a mound against hitters, he could¡¯ve been a viable option to pitch for the Dodgers at some point during the 2024 postseason. But with more discussions, it appears Ohtani pitching in the postseason won¡¯t be happening in this October.

¡°I think it¡¯s no different than before,¡± said Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes. ¡°We don¡¯t anticipate him pitching in the postseason.¡±

Gomes also added that Ohtani will continue his throwing progression, but it won¡¯t advance to facing hitters. Ohtani will throw bullpen sessions before games and on off days, which is something the NL MVP frontrunner has done for a couple of months now.

The possibility of Ohtani pitching in the postseason first became somewhat realistic when manager Dave Roberts didn¡¯t close the door during a radio interview in mid-September. At the time, however, even with the Dodgers navigating through a flurry of pitching injuries, Roberts did note it was unlikely Ohtani would take the mound at any point in the postseason.

Now, it¡¯s almost a certainty that Ohtani won¡¯t make his pitching debut with the Dodgers until next March.