The Los Angeles Dodgers won a thrilling Game 6 to force Game 7 on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, which means the sport could be getting incredible theater.
In the do-or-die final game of the year, everyone is likely available to pitch on both sides. That includes Shohei Ohtani, who started Game 4 for Los Angeles on Tuesday night.
Ohtani will be on three days of rest for Game 7, and he has never pitched on that little rest in his MLB career. With MLB’s rules in mind, Dave Roberts will have to be strategic with how he uses his star.
Here's a breakdown of how the Dodgers plan to use Ohtani in Game 7.
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Will Shohei Ohtani pitch in Game 7?
After Game 6, Dave Roberts explained that the plan is to use Ohtani in Game 7, likely as the starting pitcher. However, it is still unclear how long he will stay in the game.
"He's certainly going to be a part of the pitching plan," Roberts said. "It could be two innings, but it could be four innings... We're going to have to talk to him first."
“This is do or die, you got to leave it all out there...”@Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts joined @Ken_Rosenthal to talk about his decision to bring Tyler Glasnow in for the 9th, and gives his outlook for Game 7! Pic.twitter.com/0LX12ecfCY
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) November 1, 2025
Joel Sherman reports that the Dodgers will, in fact, start Ohtani in Game 7.
The Dodgers’ current plan is to start Shohei Ohtani on short rest in Game 7.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) November 1, 2025
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What is an opener?
An "opener" is a relief pitcher who starts the game before giving way to a more traditional starting pitcher to pitch the bulk of the innings. Typically, teams use openers to ease the burden on their starting pitcher, allowing them to avoid the top of the order in the first inning.
In the case of Ohtani, however, the opener would simply be a way to keep his bat in the lineup, since it would be more complicated to use him as a true reliever.
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Could Dodgers use Shohei Ohtani as a closer?
The Dodgers could use Ohtani as a closer, but it offers more complications. First, finding time for Ohtani to warm up in the bullpen while he has to hit throughout the game as a designated hitter could be difficult.
Additionally, if Dave Roberts uses Ohtani in relief, then takes him out, Los Angeles would lose its designated hitter. MLB rules state that, if Ohtani comes in as a relief pitcher, once he is finished he must play the field to stay in the lineup.
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What is the Ohtani rule?
In 2022, MLB instituted a rule that allowed Ohtani to be a pitcher and a designated hitter in the same game. The rule states that a starting pitcher who also serves as a designated hitter is considered "two different players," meaning the player can remain in the game as a DH once he leaves as a starting pitcher.
However, the rule does not apply if the player comes in as a reliever. In that case, the team must forfeit its DH, so when the player leaves a games as a relief pitcher, he would also leave the game as a hitter.
MORE: Breaking down the Shohei Ohtani rule
Shohei Ohtani playoff pitching stats
Here's a look at how Ohtani has pitched in the playoffs thus far:
- Games: 3
- Innings: 18.0
- ERA: 3.50
- Strikeouts: 25
- Walks: 5
- Hits: 11
- Runs: 7
In his lone World Series appearance as a starter, Ohtani allowed four runs to the Blue Jays in six innings, with six strikeouts and six hits.