Frequent off days in April will offer ample rest for the starters, creating competition for the fifth spot before Shohei Ohtani is expected to be ready in May.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' plan to use a six-man rotation this season is on hold until one of the half-dozen, star right-hander Shohei Ohtani, returns to the mound in May, according to the team's president of baseball operations.

The Dodgers reversed course on how they'll configure their rotation to open the season, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said Friday that the team will use five starting pitchers until Shohei Ohtani returns to the big league mound.