Shohei Ohtani’s Biggest Test: World Series Game 7 for Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are putting their hopes squarely on Shohei Ohtani’s shoulders. He’ll take the mound and lead off as designated hitter in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ohtani’s got just three days’ rest. He’ll try to push his team to a championship, all while taking on a two-way workload we just don’t see in modern baseball.

People are already wondering about his stamina and how the Dodgers will use him. This decision isn’t just about necessity—it’s also about the wild mix of rules and circumstances that come with having the game’s most dynamic player.

Shohei Ohtani’s Dual Role on Baseball’s Biggest Stage

Ohtani will both pitch and bat in the winner-take-all game. That’s a move that really shows off his status as the sport’s most versatile athlete.

Thanks to the “Ohtani rule,” he can stay in the lineup as the designated hitter even after he’s done pitching. For the Dodgers, that rule changes everything.

The Mechanics Behind the Decision

Why start Ohtani instead of using him out of the bullpen? If they brought him in as a reliever, the Dodgers would lose their designated hitter spot.

Manager Dave Roberts made it clear: to avoid that tactical mess, Ohtani has to start—even if he’s tired after throwing 93 pitches in Game 4.

Balancing Short Rest with Maximum Impact

Ohtani’s 2025 season has been a grind. He’s thrown 65 innings and stepped up for 805 plate appearances, which is just wild for any superstar.

His postseason has had its ups and downs—he’s flashed serious offensive firepower, but he’s also had some quiet stretches. That brutal 18-inning Game 3 didn’t help anyone’s energy, least of all his.

Evaluating Ohtani’s Stamina and Competitiveness

Roberts isn’t making any promises about how deep Ohtani can go in Game 7. He says they’ll just have to watch him inning by inning.

But Ohtani says he can pitch deep into games if he feels good. That kind of drive is exactly why he’s getting the ball tonight, even with limited rest.

The Dodgers’ Limited Pitching Alternatives

Part of this choice comes down to who else the Dodgers have available. The other options don’t inspire a ton of confidence for a game like this:

• Emmet Sheehan – talented, sure, but not exactly tested in high-pressure postseason starts
• Clayton Kershaw – a legend, but he’s past his prime and hasn’t looked sharp lately
• Tyler Glasnow – great stuff, but he fits better in set situations than as a long-haul starter

Honestly, Ohtani’s mix of pitching and hitting is the Dodgers’ best shot at winning.

A Season Building Toward This Moment

It almost feels like everything’s been building to this. Ohtani’s spent the whole year juggling ace pitcher duties and anchoring the lineup.

Starting Game 7 on short rest while leading off? That’s a rare sight, and it says a lot about both his talent and the team’s faith in him.

Legacy Shaping Under the Brightest Lights

If Ohtani comes through in Game 7, he’ll add another epic chapter to his already remarkable legacy. Not many modern athletes have taken on this kind of challenge in a single year, let alone with everything on the line in the World Series.

What Fans Can Expect

Ohtani’s likely to come out swinging, really pushing the pace from his leadoff spot. He’ll try to set the tone right away, both at the plate and on the mound.

He’ll want to get his fastball working early, but honestly, how long he lasts out there? That’s anyone’s guess—it depends on how he feels, how quickly he recovers, and, well, just how the game unfolds. Every pitch, every swing, it all feels like it could tip the scales for the Dodgers.

When Game 7 kicks off, you can bet every eye in the stadium will lock onto Shohei Ohtani. The guy’s rewriting what we thought possible in baseball, and there’s this real hope among Dodgers fans that his crazy skillset might just be enough to bring home a championship—even if he’s not at 100%.

And honestly, for baseball as a whole, it’s wild to watch. Ohtani isn’t just a star—he’s this phenomenon who might end up changing the game for years to come.

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Here is the source article for this story: In a career full of awe-inspiring moments, Shohei Ohtani faces perhaps his biggest challenge yet