LOS ANGELES — Shohei Ohtani has proved to be a viable starting pitcher as the postseason approaches, but Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts acknowledged Wednesday that the organization has considered whether he might be more valuable helping a weary bullpen — perhaps especially in a shorter series like the three-game wild-card round.

It remains far more likely that Ohtani will serve as one of the Dodgers’ starters in the playoffs, but Roberts said the possibility of Ohtani helping out of the bullpen is “something we’re all talking about.”

“I know that we are going to be talking about it,” Roberts said. “I think the one thing you can say, though, is that we use him once every seven days, eight days, nine days — [11] days in between his last start — so to think that now it’s feasible for a guy that’s just coming off what he’s done last year, or didn’t do last year, to then now put him in a role that’s very, very unique — because he’s a very methodical, disciplined, routine-driven person. The pen is the complete opposite, right? You potentially could be taking on risk, and we’ve come this far, certainly with the kid gloves and managing.”

The Dodgers’ caution while managing Ohtani’s return to the mound in the wake of a second repair of his ulnar collateral ligament was evident Tuesday, when Roberts removed him after five no-hit innings despite just 68 pitches. That decision was predetermined, Roberts said, a function of the team’s hesitancy to push him beyond the five-inning threshold this season.

Ohtani said he understood the decision but added that he wants to “pitch as long as possible.” Later, while addressing the Japanese media, Ohtani expressed an openness to playing the outfield in order to remain in the lineup after exiting as a reliever, saying: “I’ve had conversations with various people, and the idea of me pitching in relief has come up. As a player, I want to be prepared to handle whatever role is needed. If I do end up pitching out of the bullpen, I think that could also mean I’d need to play in the outfield afterward, depending on the situation. So I want to be ready for anything, no matter what comes my way.”

Major League Baseball’s two-way rule, adopted in 2019, allows Ohtani to remain in the game as the designated hitter if he starts on the mound and is replaced. But if he were to start a game — even in the playoffs — as the DH, then pitch in relief, the Dodgers would lose the DH once Ohtani stops pitching. Ohtani’s only path to remaining in the game in that situation would be to play the outfield — something he did seven times with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021.

Ohtani, though, has not done any work in the outfield this year. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are naturally hesitant to add more responsibilities to a player who’s also a catalyst atop their lineup, not to mention a legitimate stolen-base threat.

Asked if Ohtani in the outfield is on his radar, Roberts smiled and said, “No.”

“There’s a lot of variables,” Roberts said, “but to know that he can potentially run out there, it’s great. Maybe just in theory. But, again, I love him for even throwing that out there.”

The Dodgers have long been open to the possibility of Ohtani closing out a critical game in October — like he did to seal a championship for his native Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic — but the prospect of him helping as a reliever has ramped up as the bullpen has continued to struggle and the rotation has taken form.

The Dodgers have five other effective starters in Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and Emmet Sheehan, the latter of whom also has proved to be effective out of the bullpen. Some of their highest-leverage relievers — Blake Treinen, Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates and Michael Kopech among them — have struggled to varying degrees.

If Ohtani were to pitch in relief, it would be in the ninth inning. But juggling warming up in the bullpen if his turn to bat is coming up, or if he’s required to run the bases, could prove difficult. And the Dodgers would be at risk of either losing him as a hitter or forcing him to play the outfield if the game extends to extra innings.

“I don’t know if it’s a pipe dream,” Roberts said of Ohtani playing the outfield, “but it’s very commendable from Shohei.”

PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs, who haven’t been to the postseason since the 2020 season, were in the mood to party Wednesday afternoon — and so they cut loose.

After clinching a National League playoff berth with an 8-4 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cubs players and coaches high-fived and hugged each other on the field before taking the celebration up a notch in the visitors’ clubhouse at PNC Park.

With tarps in place and most wearing protective eyewear, a jubilant bunch doused each other with champagne and beer while others puffed victory cigars. Some did both.

Everything was muted during the coronavirus pandemic when the Cubs last qualified. They held off after making it in 2018, hoping to win the NL Central, just to finish second to the Milwaukee Brewers.

“It’s a grind of a season. You celebrate the first goal you accomplished,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ve made it to our first goal and that’s exciting. For everybody that’s been a part of the grind the whole year, for everybody that’s worked so hard to put us in this position, it’s a fun thing to do.

“You don’t get to do this in regular jobs — get to celebrate and throw champagne on each other. You just don’t get to do it, right? So you take advantage of it, have fun with it, enjoy each other and celebrate each other.”

ABSOLUTE CINEMA. pic.twitter.com/vUoKjrNMTP

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 17, 2025

FLY THE W, CHICAGO. pic.twitter.com/9Zc3CY6g1j

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 17, 2025

Ian Happ homered and drove in three runs as the Cubs won their fourth straight for their seventh victory in eight games.

The Cubs (88-64) seemed destined for the playoffs since going 18-9 in May. Still, this hasn’t been straightforward. They lead the NL wild-card standings and are 4 1/2 games back of the first-place Brewers in the Central, having surrendered the division lead on July 28 after sitting alone at the top through July 19.

“When you’re in it, you think it’s going to happen every year,” pitcher Matthew Boyd said. “The fact and the reality is this is really hard to do. … This means so much to all of us. We’re not done yet. That’s the most important thing. We still know where we want to go.”

Happ popped the cork — in the clubhouse and on the field. The Pittsburgh native has played nine years with the Cubs. He was a rookie in 2017, when Chicago won the NL Central just one year after ending a 107-year drought without winning the World Series.

Happ was there with Anthony Rizzo, Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant, Javier Baez and others. This time, it was Pete Crow-Armstrong by his side, pulled into a tight hug for a simple message.

“There was definitely a mention of, ‘This is not the last,'” Crow-Armstrong said. “I mean, Ian learned from some of the best. Ian is one of the best at passing that on. Ian has meant a lot to me, just as a person. I’ll follow his lead. … I’ve got full trust in Ian Happ as a leader.”

Crow-Armstrong was dynamic with 25 home runs and 71 RBIs through in 95 games through the All-Star Break. The 23-year-old has cooled considerably, having four homers and driving in 19 runs since, and is looking forward to starting fresh in the playoffs.

“I don’t know. I’ve never done this,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I’m just excited to keep doing what we’re doing, doing what we’ve done all year. I’ve never experienced October baseball. I’m just ready to go all in.”

It might be necessary.

Kyle Tucker, an All-Star right fielder, has been on the injured list since Sept. 9 with a left calf injury. He will visit with a physical therapy group in Florida used in his recovery from a right leg injury while with the Houston Astros last season.

Tucker is hitting .270 with 22 home runs, 73 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in his first season since being traded to the Cubs in December.

“We’re aligned with Kyle,” Counsell said. “This is the best way for him to make some improvements. Unfortunately, we’ve plateaued and we weren’t making progress. That’s frustrating for Kyle.”

For every mention of how great Wednesday’s celebratory moment was, there was one of how it’s not enough. The Cubs want more. Not just the division, but the World Series. Tucker would make that easier, but this wasn’t the day to worry.

“We got to go to the playoffs in 2020, but doing it near the end of a true 162 is totally different,” Nico Hoerner said. “Baseball is such a game of persistence and comradery. Getting to celebrate like this is a really special thing.

“It’s obviously not our ultimate goal, but it’s still a huge milestone along the way. It’s awesome to celebrate with this group.”

And with the Cubs reaching their first goal on the road, Counsell couldn’t help but think about their fans back in Chicago.

“You want the fans to be able to experience October baseball and be a part of that and take them on a journey with the team. That’s so much fun,” Counsell said. “Those are the people you think about when this stuff happens — everybody that puts in the work, everybody that shows up at 12 o’clock for a night game and all the fans that come every day to Wrigley.

“We want them to be able to enjoy the best of baseball, which is October.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

MILWAUKEE — The Brewers have lost another pitcher to injury and are unsure when All-Star closer Trevor Megill can return from his with the playoffs approaching.

The latest blow came Wednesday when Jose Quintana landed on the 15-day injured list with a left calf strain. The veteran lefty was hurt in the fourth inning of Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Quintana, who has been fighting for a spot in the postseason rotation, was injured as he hustled to cover first. He crossed the bag ahead of José Fermín to record the final out of the inning but appeared to be limping slightly as he made his way to the dugout. Quintana later left American Family Field in a walking boot while on his way to have an MRI.

The Brewers decided to place Quintana on the injured list after he tested the calf on Wednesday.

Right-handed reliever Nick Mears was reinstated from the 15-day injured list to replace Quintana.

Meanwhile, there’s continuing concern around Megill, who has been dealing with a right flexor strain and has been on the injured list since Aug. 27 with what was initially thought to be a mild injury.

Megill, who is 5-3 with a 2.54 ERA and 30 saves, was scheduled to play catch before Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels but his recent throwing sessions haven’t gone as well as hoped, manager Pat Murphy said.

“Nothing great. It was not revealing but he didn’t want to push it anymore,” Murphy said, noting that Megill’s expected return has been pushed back.

“We all want him to pitch before the postseason,” Murphy said.

When asked if that was unlikely, the Milwaukee skipper said he didn’t have a concrete answer.

“I’m hopeful,” Murphy said.

In further discussing Megill’s injury, Murphy said “it’s not checking out medically.”

“His health is paramount,” Murphy said. “He’s working through the process of trying to hurry up and that’s not always the best thing for a flexor strain. We’re disappointed in the situation.”

Murphy spoke cautiously about trying to have Megill push through the injury in the playoffs, should it come to that.

“It’s not recommended,” Murphy said. “It’s got to have some time to heal. Unfortunately, we don’t have that time.”

On a positive note for the Brewers, Robert Gasser, who has been rehabbing from Tommy John surgery performed in June 2024, pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Nashville on Wednesday.

“I think you’ll see him soon,” Murphy said, adding that Gasser could serve in a multi-inning role.

Right-hander Chad Patrick, called up from Nashville on Sept. 9, struck out the side in the eighth inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Angels.

“Chad Patrick through the ball good last night, that’s encouraging,” Murphy said. “Just trying to get a feel for what we might do over these last 11 days to make (the bullpen) serviceable on the back end.”