The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. At the time, it was the most lucrative contract in sports history.
All Ohtani did for the Dodgers in his first season was win the National League MVP award, then help the Dodgers capture their first World Series title in a non-pandemic season since 1988.
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Now, they’re asking him to do even more.
Shohei Ohtani will be the Dodgers’ starting pitcher and designated hitter in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday in Toronto, according to multiple reports Friday.
Just four days ago, Ohtani pitched into the seventh inning of Game 4 of this World Series, throwing 93 pitches in all. Saturday, he will likely serve as an “opener” — pitching somewhere between two and four innings if the two-way star is able to avoid early trouble.
Ohtani “is certainly going to be part of the pitching plan,” manager Dave Roberts told Ken Rosenthal after Fox Sports’ telecast of Game 6. “With Shohei, it could be two innings, but it could be four innings. I’m not sure we’re going to slot him. We’re going to have to talk to him first, and where he’s most comfortable.”
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Max Scherzer is starting Game 7 for the Blue Jays.
The question of whether or not Ohtani would appear in the game was a matter of when, not if. Now it appears he’ll go first.
If Ohtani were to be available in the game at all, starting it on the mound always made the most sense. As the only designated two-way player in baseball, Ohtani will be allowed to remain in the game as a designated hitter after he’s thrown his final pitch.
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If Ohtani came in from the bullpen, warming up midgame would be a challenge — particularly if he was needed to pitch in the same inning he appeared as a hitter.
For all their struggles in the regular season and postseason, the Dodgers’ bullpen has yielded some strong performances in the World Series. Will Klein has thrown five scoreless innings — including the final four in Game 3 alone. Justin Wrobleski has allowed only two of the 11 batters he’s faced to reach; neither has scored.
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Clayton Kershaw, Edgardo Henriquez, Roki Sasaki and Jack Dreyer haven’t allowed a run against the Blue Jays either, though some needed ample help from their defense.
All of them could play a part in Roberts’ pitching plan for Game 7. But Ohtani will come first.
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