Dodgers Make Choice About Shohei Ohtani Beginning Sport 7 of World Collection

[ad_1] The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. On the time, it was probably the most profitable contract in sports activities historical past.

All Ohtani did for the Dodgers in his first season was win the Nationwide League MVP award, then assist the Dodgers seize their first World Collection title in a non-pandemic season since 1988.

Extra information: Dodgers Dave Roberts Reveals If Shohei Ohtani Will Pitch World Collection Sport 7

Now, they're asking him to do much more.

Shohei Ohtani would be the Dodgers' beginning pitcher and designated hitter in Sport 7 of the World Collection on Saturday in Toronto, in line with a number of stories Friday.

<img id="10975282" alt="Dodgers Dave Roberts Will Smith Shohei Ohtani" caption="TORONTO, ONTARIO - OCTOBER 31: Will Smith #16 of the Los Angeles Dodgers (C) and Shohei Ohtani #17 (R) look on against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixth inning in game six of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Center on October 31, 2025 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)" src="Emilee Chinn/Getty Images" sourcealt="" sources="[]" fetchpriority="auto" loading="lazy" width="2052" height="1368" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" style="color:transparent;aspect-ratio:inherit;object-fit:cover" sizes="(min-width: 1200px) 1536px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw" srcset="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244398896.jpg?w=640&quality=75&webp=1 640w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244398896.jpg?w=750&quality=75&webp=1 750w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244398896.jpg?w=1000&quality=75&webp=1 1000w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244398896.jpg?w=1200&quality=75&webp=1 1200w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244398896.jpg?w=1360&quality=75&webp=1 1360w, https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244398896.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1 1600w" bad-src="https://assets.newsweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/GettyImages-2244398896.jpg?w=1600&quality=75&webp=1"/> Simply 4 days in the past, Ohtani pitched into the seventh inning of Sport 4 of this World Collection, throwing 93 pitches in all. Saturday, he'll probably function an "opener" — pitching someplace between two and 4 innings if the two-way star is ready to keep away from early bother.

Ohtani "is definitely going to be a part of the pitching plan," supervisor Dave Roberts advised Ken Rosenthal after Fox Sports activities' telecast of Sport 6. "With Shohei, it may very well be two innings, but it surely may very well be 4 innings. I am undecided we'll slot him. We will have to speak to him first, and the place he is most comfy."

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Max Scherzer is beginning Sport 7 for the Blue Jays.

The query of whether or not or not Ohtani would seem within the sport was a matter of when, not if. Now it seems he'll go first.

If Ohtani have been to be accessible within the sport in any respect, beginning it on the mound all the time made probably the most sense. As the one designated two-way participant in baseball, Ohtani shall be allowed to stay within the sport as a delegated hitter after he is thrown his last pitch.

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If Ohtani got here in from the bullpen, warming up midgame can be a problem — notably if he was wanted to pitch in the identical inning he appeared as a hitter.

For all their struggles within the common season and postseason, the Dodgers' bullpen has yielded some robust performances within the World Collection. Will Klein has thrown 5 scoreless innings — together with the ultimate 4 in Sport 3 alone. Justin Wrobleski has allowed solely two of the 11 batters he is confronted to succeed in; neither has scored.

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Clayton Kershaw, Edgardo Henriquez, Roki Sasaki and Jack Dreyer have not allowed a run towards the Blue Jays both, although some wanted ample assist from their protection.