Wed Oct 09 04:32:00 UTC 2024: ## Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani Ready for First Postseason Experience
**Los Angeles, CA** – The Dodgers’ star player Shohei Ohtani is set to experience the thrill of the playoffs for the first time in his Major League Baseball career. The two-way phenom, known for his incredible pitching and hitting abilities, expressed his excitement about the upcoming National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres.
“It’s always been my childhood dream to be in an important situation, to play in important games,” Ohtani shared on Friday. “I think the excitement of that is greater than anything else that I could possibly feel.”
The Dodgers are entering the series as favorites, despite navigating a series of pitching injuries throughout the regular season. Ohtani, alongside Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, forms a formidable offensive force, while the team’s pitching staff has proven capable of remaining competitive.
Manager Dave Roberts emphasized the importance of the rivalry with the Padres, stating, “I think ‘unfinished business’ is something that resonates with our guys. It’s an edgy group right now, which I think is a good thing.”
The series opener will feature a pitching matchup between Dodgers’ Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Padres’ Kyle Higashioka, a Huntington Beach native who recently hit two home runs in the Padres’ wildcard series victory.
Ohtani expressed his hope to see a matchup between Yamamoto and Padres ace Yu Darvish, his childhood hero. While that scenario won’t materialize this time, Ohtani remains excited to face Darvish in the series.
“Darvish has been my childhood hero,” Ohtani said. “He’s somebody that I’ve seen him play in Japan and obviously in Major League Baseball. My personal hope was that Darvish would have faced against Yoshinobu. Obviously that’s not going to happen this time around, but I’m very honored and excited to be able to face him.”
The Dodgers and Padres will face off in a best-of-five series, with the first game taking place at Dodger Stadium on Saturday night.
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