TORONTO — Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts will think about using Shohei Ohtani as an opener or even as an outfielder in Game 7 if Los Angeles forces the World Series in opposition to Toronto to the restrict.
The two-way star threw 93 pitches in Wednesday’s 6-2 loss in Game 4 and could be accessible as a reliever this weekend in Toronto.
However, if Ohtani entered as a reliever after beginning the sport as a chosen hitter, the Dodgers would lose their DH. He can stay in the sport as a DH if he is also the beginning pitcher.
“I think we would consider everything,” Roberts stated (*7*), a day forward of Game 6. “It’s more of just kind of doing whatever we can to get through tomorrow and then pick up the pieces and then see what’s the best way to attack a potential Game 7. So everything should be on the table and will be, for sure.”
Roberts stated he deliberate to debate choices with Ohtani later (*7*).
Ohtani has by no means pitched in aid throughout his Major League Baseball profession. He made a handful of aid appearances in Japan for the Pacific League’s Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, largely as a rookie in 2013. He closed out Japan’s victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic last in opposition to the United States, putting out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout for the ultimate out.
Ohtani took on-field batting follow (*7*), which he hardly ever does, showing to hit balls off the resort behind heart discipline.
He is batting .250 with eight homers, 14 RBIs and 14 walks in the postseason for a 1.109 OPS and is 2-1 on the mound with a 3.50 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 18 innings.
If Ohtani entered as a reliever after beginning as a DH, he would want to play a place to stay in the sport as soon as his mound look is over.
He made seven outfield appearances with the Angels in 2021, the yr earlier than a rule was modified permitting beginning pitchers to remain in video games at DH after being faraway from mound appearances.