Freddie Freeman delivered another walk-off home run, but Shohei Ohtani was a headliner in his own right after the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers tied a World Series record in Game 3 by playing 18 innings at Dodger Stadium.
That was both because of his on-base streak and also due to what loomed Tuesday in Game 4. Ohtani had already been lined up to make his first pitching start in the World Series well before taking part in the marathon contest that saw him experience cramping.
He nevertheless made the start and pitched six-plus innings. Ohtani’s fastball velocity never reached 100 mph but he was largely effective until running into trouble in the seventh. Up to that point, he’d only been hurt by hanging a sweeper to Vladimir Guerrero Jr., which was hit for a go-ahead two-run homer.
But a leadoff walk and double chased Ohtani from his start in the seventh inning. His final line closed at four runs allowed.
The Dodgers started Ohtani in Game 4 for both of their best-of-seven series in order to fully maximize their rotation. It theoretically leads to Ohtani being available in a potential Game 7.
That never came to be in the National League Championship Series due to the Dodgers sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers, but it might become a factor in the World Series if the Dodgers can avoid elimination at Rogers Centre on Friday.
For his part, Ohtani is looking forward to being an option.
“It depends on how long the series goes, but if there’s a possibility I’ll be needed in any of the games, I want to be ready,” he said in Japanese. “There could be games like [Monday’s] that go into extra innings.
“So I want to stay prepared to pitch at any time.”
Dodgers open to Shohei Ohtani relief appearance
Ohtani memorably closed out the championship game for Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic to win the gold medal. That experience out of the bullpen fueled questions throughout this season as to whether or not the Dodgers would consider their two-way star for a relief appearance in the postseason.
“I haven’t talked to Shohei yet, but obviously he won’t be available tonight,” manager Dave Roberts said before Game 5. “We’ll see where he comes in beyond that. But I haven’t had that conversation.
“But certainly, when you’re talking about Game 6, potentially Game 7 of the World Series, all hands on deck. So we’ll see where that goes.”
When asked if the Dodgers would like to have Ohtani among their bullpen choices to finish the World Series, Roberts answered, “If he can go, if it makes sense, certainly he would be an option.”
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