"Dodgers spent $700,000,000 on Shohei Ohtani, $300,000,000 on Yamamoto" - Reds HOFer sees only Yankees with more pressure to win World Series than LA

On Thursday, Cincinnati Reds Hall of Famer Sean Casey and MLB insider Rich Ciancimino talked about the significant pressure Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are facing to win the World Series this year. According to Casey, only Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees have greater postseason pressure than Ohtani and co.

Sean Casey, who spent eleven years playing in the major leagues and was a three-time All-Star with the Cincinnati Reds, is now a broadcaster on the MLB Network.

On the October 3 episode of 'The Mayor's Office with Sean Casey', Casey talked about why he thinks the Yankees are facing the most pressure going into October.

"The Yankees didn't make the postseason last year (2023). The pressure on them is not to [just] make the postseason, the pressure on them is to win the World Series. They haven't won the World Series since 2009. They got Soto in the lineup, Judgy's the best player in the world, I believe, The rotation's pitching well. It just seems like the Yankees are set up good." Casey said [17:45]

Casey then made the case for the Dodgers having the most pressure to win after the Yankees.

"I think the biggest pressure, outside of New York is [due to] the billion dollars the Dodgers spent. They spent $700,000,000 on Shohei Ohtani and $300,000,000 on Yamamoto. There's pressure there. You spend that type of money, you gotta win championships." Casey added [18:28]

Shohei Ohtani has more than lived up to his price tag as he led the NL with 54 home runs and 130 RBIs, and finished second in batting average (.310) and stolen bases (59).

However, Yamamoto has had a tough debut season in LA, in part due to injuries. He started just 18 games, going 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA.

Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts says "It's not on Shohei Ohtani to carry us" heading into his first postseason

Shohei Ohtani has had arguably the best individual season of all time in 2024. The first player to reach the landmark of 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season, the Japanese star heads into his first-ever playoff series in spectacular form.

However, manager Dave Roberts, addressing the media ahead of the Dodgers' final regular season game at Coors Field, said that all the pressure for the team to win the title this season doesn't solely fall on Ohtani's shoulders.

"It's certainly not on Shohei to carry anyone, I don't believe that. Given that you have other stars in the lineup. I think, they all just gotta play within themselves. They're superstars, I'll take our chances" Roberts said [4:30]

With the ability Shohei Ohtani's shown to decide games on his own, it is not surprising to see a lot of Dodgers' fans believe that this may finally be the year they bring the Commisioner's Trophy back to LA after three seasons of postseason heartbreak.