Dodgers’ Puzzle: Getting the Most Out of Josué De Paula While the Shohei Ohtani Question Lingers

When the Dodgers announced the signing of former Twins reliever Josué De Paula, the headlines were quick to note the left‑handed depth he brings. What many fans didn’t realize is how much the move speaks to a deeper, lingering problem: the club’s need for a reliable left‑handed option in high‑leverage situations, especially with the ever‑present Shohei Ohtani factor looming over the AL West.

De Paula isn’t a household name, but his numbers tell a quiet story. In 2023 he posted a 2.81 ERA over 57⅔ innings, striking out 71 hitters while walking just 22. His slider sits in the high‑80s and his fastball brushes 94‑95 mph – enough to keep right‑handed batters honest and, more importantly, to give the Dodgers a genuine left‑handed matchup weapon.

Right now the Dodgers’ bullpen is a bit of a patchwork. The dominant right‑handed trio of Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol and Buehler’s recent return have been solid, yet the left side is thin. Ryan Vogelsong, once a workhorse, is aging, and the club’s younger lefties have struggled to stick in late‑innings pressure. That gap has shown up in several recent games where left‑handed hitters have taken advantage of a mismatched right‑handed reliever.

Enter De Paula. The most straightforward way to use him is as a traditional “LOOGY” – a left‑handed one‑out guy who can shut down power lefties like Mike Trout, Mookie Betts (yes, they’re still left‑handed batters) or the upcoming threat of Ohtani himself when he takes the mound as a pitcher for the Angels. Because Ohtani is a two‑way star, the Dodgers will often face him as a batter in crucial moments. Having a left‑handed arm who can neutralize him in the later innings could swing a series.

But the Dodgers shouldn’t limit De Paula to one‑out cameo appearances. His strikeout rate (11.1 K/9) suggests he can handle longer stints. In high‑leverage spots – say, the 6th or 7th inning with a narrow lead – he could be paired with a right‑hander to create a mini‑rotation that forces the opposition to constantly adjust. This strategy mirrors what the Cardinals have done with their left‑handed specialists: start with a lefty, bring in a righty, then circle back if needed.

Another angle is platoon flexibility. The Dodgers have a slew of switch‑hitters and right‑handed sluggers, and often the lineup turns into a right‑handed heavy configuration late in games. Deploying De Paula in those moments forces the opposition to either sit a left‑handed batter or risk a left‑handed pitcher facing a right‑handed swing – both scenarios that favor L.A.

Of course, the Ohtani problem isn’t just about facing a left‑handed bat. The Angels have built a roster that leans heavily on left‑handed pitching, and Ohtani’s presence in the batting order adds another layer of strategic complexity. By bolstering their own lefty bullpen, the Dodgers are essentially preparing a counter‑measure: a left‑handed arm that can match Ohtani’s lefty advantage, whether he’s batting or pitching.

In practical terms, the Dodgers could earmark De Paula for the following roles:

• Late‑inning left‑handed specialist against lefty power hitters.
• Bridge reliever in high‑leverage situations, especially when a right‑hander has been pulled early.
• Spot starter in case of injuries, given his ability to throw nine innings in the minors.

By integrating him in these ways, the Dodgers not only patch a bullpen hole but also send a subtle message to the Angels: they’re not going to sit back and let Ohtani dictate the late‑game narrative.

Bottom line: Josué De Paula may not be a marquee name, but his skill set aligns perfectly with the Dodgers’ immediate needs. If the coaching staff can balance his traditional LOOGY duties with longer, high‑leverage outings, L.A. could finally have the left‑handed firepower to neutralize the Ohtani effect and close out games with confidence.