Shohei Ohtani: Opener or Outfielder for World Series Game 7

This article dives into the tough choices Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts faces as his team stares down a possible Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. At the center of it all? Two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, who could end up in some pretty unexpected roles—maybe as an opener, a reliever, or even out in the field—to squeeze every bit of value out of his unique skill set in this massive postseason moment.

Roberts is running through every scenario for using Ohtani, weighing the designated hitter rules and Ohtani’s rare talents both at the plate and on the mound. It’s a puzzle with a lot of moving parts.

Ohtani’s Game 7 Potential: More Than Just a DH

With the championship on the line, Roberts faces a real dilemma. Ohtani’s been the Dodgers’ designated hitter for most of the postseason, but putting him on the mound changes everything about how the lineup works.

MLB rules say if Ohtani starts as the DH and then moves to pitcher, the team loses the DH spot completely. That means pitchers would have to hit in one of the biggest games of the year. Not ideal, right?

The Unique Two-Way Advantage

If Ohtani starts Game 7 as both pitcher and DH, he can stay in the batting order even after he’s done pitching. That’s a crazy edge only someone like Ohtani brings to the table.

Roberts is looking at every angle because in the playoffs, every at-bat feels like it matters more than the last. Having Ohtani’s bat in the lineup all game? That could swing the whole thing.

From Japan to MLB: Ohtani’s Relief Pitching History

Ohtani hasn’t pitched in relief in the majors, but he’s done it in Japan. Back in 2013, he made a handful of relief appearances for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, showing he can handle weird, high-stress situations.

Everyone still talks about his most famous relief outing: closing out Japan’s 2023 World Baseball Classic championship by striking out Mike Trout—who, funnily enough, is now his teammate in L.A. That moment still gives people chills.

Postseason Performance So Far

This postseason, Ohtani has been on fire. At the plate, he’s hitting .250 with eight home runs, 14 RBIs, and a jaw-dropping 1.109 OPS.

On the mound, he’s been just as good, with a 3.50 ERA and 25 strikeouts over only 18 innings. No wonder Roberts keeps thinking up new ways to keep Ohtani in the thick of things.

Signs of Readiness Ahead of the Weekend

Thursday’s workout in Toronto said a lot. Ohtani took on-field batting practice—a rare sight—and launched balls way over center field, almost reaching the team hotel.

It’s not just for show, either. That kind of display fires up the whole team and probably gives Ohtani a little extra swagger heading into such a huge game.

Game 7 Scenarios in Play

The Dodgers are tossing around a few different plans for Ohtani, like:

• Opening pitcher and DH to keep the lineup as flexible as possible.
• Middle or late relief if they need someone to shut Toronto down in a tense spot.
• Outfield duty just to keep his bat in there without using him as DH.

Each idea has its own risks and rewards. Roberts plans to sit down with Ohtani and figure out what feels right for both the team and the player himself.

Locker Room Levity: Roberts’ Light-Hearted Fall

Even with all the pressure, there’s still room for a laugh or two. During Thursday’s workout, Roberts raced infielder Hyeseong Kim and ended up wiping out on the turf.

He laughed it off, joking about pulling a hamstring. It’s silly, but moments like that help the team stay loose before everything gets serious.

Final Thoughts

Game 7 is almost here. The Dodgers have a shot if they can really tap into Shohei Ohtani’s wild versatility against Toronto.

He can pitch, hit, cover the outfield—you name it. Ohtani’s just that kind of player who changes the whole vibe.

Everybody’s waiting to see if Roberts lets him loose in more than one spot. Maybe that’ll be the move that tips the 2024 World Series.

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Here is the source article for this story: Shohei Ohtani could be used as an opener or even as an outfielder in Game 7