Dodgers make rare Shohei Ohtani pitching decision for win-or-go-home Game 7 vs. Blue Jays

Hunter Cookston

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Dodgers make rare Shohei Ohtani pitching decision for win-or-go-home Game 7 vs. Blue Jays image

The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to capture some magic in the World Series. After winning Game 3, the Dodgers dropped back-to-back games to the Toronto Blue Jays, falling behind 3-2 in the series. On Thursday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that Shohei Ohtani would need to be ready for any role if the series reached a Game 7.

“Dodgers manager Dave Roberts says everything is on the table for Shohei Ohtani in a potential Game 7 including being a closer, an opener, playing the OF, everything,” USA Today’s Bob Nightengale wrote.

On Friday, the Dodgers bounced back to defeat the Blue Jays, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 on Saturday night. There’s a lot on the line — the Dodgers are aiming for their first back-to-back World Series titles in decades, while the Blue Jays are looking to end one of the longest championship droughts in the American League. With the season hanging in the balance, the Dodgers are turning to Ohtani to get the job done.

“With everything on the line Saturday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers plan to start Shohei Ohtani on short rest in Game 7. Ohtani has previously made one start on three days' rest, but that was after completing only two innings in a prior start in 2023,” ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez wrote.

Ohtani will be looking to rebound after his outing in Game 4. In fact, he expressed some regret following that performance.

“My goal is to be able to pitch six innings, and the situation in this game I wanted to go seven. It was regrettable that I wasn’t able to finish that inning,” Ohtani told the media following the game.

Pitching on short rest will be a new challenge for Ohtani, but with the World Series on the line, it’s a challenge he’s ready to face. Handing the ball to their superstar is the Dodgers’ best move — and giving him this chance on short rest might just unleash his full potential. Ohtani is already one of the best to ever do it, and leading the Dodgers to another World Series title on Saturday would only cement that legacy.

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Contributing writer

Contributing Writer