On Thursday, Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly predicted Ohtani would do exactly that. "Pete Crow-Armstrong, James Wood, Kyle Tucker, and Pete Alonso are among the other players who would factor into the NL MVP race if it took place today, but Ohtani would probably win it," Kelly wrote.

Shohei Ohtani's ramp up toward becoming a full-fledged starting pitcher will continue Saturday when the right-hander takes the mound against the visiting Houston Astros on his 31st birthday.

Shohei Ohtani has returned to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but could he be better used as the team's closer rather than a starter?