Oh, my God. Oh, my God. Oh, my God…The Dodgers are in danger of being runner-up with their heads down
Nov 02, 2025
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Los Angeles Dodgers Ohtani started Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center in Toronto, Canada on the 2nd (Korea time).
It was literally the end of the game. With Game 5 already on the brink of defeat, the Dodgers made Game 6 difficult with Yoshinobu Yamamoto's good pitching and all-out bullpen games.
And in Game 7, Ohtani came out. Tyler Glasnow was originally scheduled to be the starting pitcher for Game 7. Ohtani, who was a starting pitcher in Game 4, was not expected to come out after a three-day break.
However, the Dodgers eventually pitched Game 7 starter Glasnow as a relief pitcher when the closer Sasaki Rocky was shaken at the end of Game 6. Game 6 was difficult to set up a 3-1 score, but Ohtani, who took a break on the 3rd as the starting pitcher for Game 7, was forced to take the mound.
It was also an inevitable choice due to the so-called 'Otani Rule' Major League Baseball's game regulations. The Dodgers also have to win the last Game 7, but according to special regulations on pitching and hitting players, Ohtani cannot go back to the batter's box as a batter after taking the mound. Only when he takes the mound as a starting pitcher, he can maintain his at-bat even if he is replaced. It was this rule that made manager Dave Roberts pitch only one, two and three innings and come down after using Ohtani as an opener after rehabilitation. The postseason was no exception.
First of all, in order to use pitcher Ohtani, you have to start unconditionally, and it's best to have another starter on standby as the second pitcher. When Ohtani pitched early in the game, Glasnow, who had already taken a relief appearance in Game 6, was warming up from the bullpen.
He took the mound in a desperate crisis, but Ohtani was also a person after all. He is already tired from accumulated postseason appearances and business trips. The World Series also went to Game 7, and he also had an extended blood fight in the 18th inning. On top of that, the mound could never have been in good condition after a three-day break.
Ohtani, who threw three consecutive breaking balls against George Springer, the first batter in the bottom of the first inning, faced a crisis in every inning, with his ball being noticeably lowered from the beginning.
After allowing Springer a hit to left-center in the first inning, he struck out Vladimir Guerrero Jr. with two outs to overcome the first crisis. However, Ohtani also had a hit by leadoff hitter Bob Bissett in the second inning and a hit by Addison Bazer, with no outs and runners on the first and second bases. Afterwards, Ohtani allowed Ernie Clement to hit a single again to load the bases and overcome the crisis by striking out.
But the third crisis was not overcome. Springer, the leadoff hitter in the third inning, hit left-handed. Later, a wild pitch came out with one out and second base on a sacrifice bunt, sending the runner out to third base, and Guerrero Jr. walked on four pitches on purpose. Ohtani, who chose to play against Bisset, threw an 88.7-mile (about 142.7km) slider and allowed a three-run home run over the center fence. The Dodgers lost the lead by 0-3 in the bottom of the third inning.
Ohtani, who was disappointed to be unable to continue his pitching after taking the mound in Game 4, bowed his head as soon as he hit a home run by Bissett and went down the mound. The Dodgers bench replaced the pitcher.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
