Shohei Ohtani, who started Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, told Japanese reporters that he would prepare to pitch in Toronto this weekend. Nicole Vasquez / MLB Photos via Getty Images
LOS ANGELES — If Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani pitches again in the World Series, as he told Japanese reporters on Tuesday he would prepare to do when the games take place in Toronto this weekend, the most sensible way to do it may be for him to start a possible Game 7.
The reasoning stems from the wording of Major League Baseball’s two-way player rules, which became known as the “Ohtani Rule” after being tweaked in 2022. The rule states that a player with a two-way roster designation, such as Ohtani, can remain in the game as a designated hitter after leaving the game as a pitcher. But the rule does not apply to a two-way player entering as a reliever. So, if Ohtani were to come in relief against the Blue Jays in Game 6 on Friday or Game 7 on Saturday, the Dodgers would lose the designated hitter if he stopped pitching.
That leaves two viable options for the Dodgers: use Ohtani as a starter or use him as a closer. Ohtani played the latter role during the gold medal game of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, striking out former Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout in the game’s final at-bat. But that required him to warm up during the game, which would add a layer of complications. And that occurred before Ohtani underwent his second elbow reconstruction, in the fall of 2023.
The Dodgers have been careful to monitor Ohtani’s workload as he returned to the mound in 2025. So, the team could opt for a more conventional, less dramatic deployment of the game’s most famous player. With Ohtani pitching on short rest, the team could line up Game 3 starter Tyler Glasnow behind him as the bulk pitcher.
Going into Wednesday night’s Game 5 at Dodger Stadium, the series is tied at two games apiece. There will be a Game 6 at Rogers Centre, regardless of who wins Wednesday.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated the team would check in with Ohtani about his readiness this weekend.
Roberts said, “If he can go, if it makes sense, certainly he would be an option.”
Oct 29, 2025
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