Shohei Ohtani an option in Dodgers’ bullpen for World Series Game 6, 7

The two-way player rule works differently for starters than relievers. When Ohtani starts a game on the mound and is replaced, he is able to remain in the game as the designated hitter. But if he were to start the game as the DH and then pitch in relief, the Dodgers would lose the DH once Ohtani’s pitching appearance ends.

It’s a calculated decision for the Dodgers, who would have to feel confident in Ohtani being able to finish a game on the mound in order to send him out there. The alternative option would be to use him as an opener, similar to the role he served earlier this year as he eased back into pitching.

The team is mulling over these possibilities, as well as the prospect of shifting Ohtani to the outfield after a relief appearance — which would keep him in the lineup. The latter does not seem likely to happen, but anything is on the table in an effort to keep the Dodgers’ season alive.

“We’ll kind of talk through whatever is the best,” manager Dave Roberts said Thursday. “If we get to that point, we’ll see. But he’s not going to play the outfield tomorrow, I do know that. But if we get to Game 7, we’ll have a good discussion about everything.”

Roberts and Ohtani have yet to discuss the specifics around his availability to pitch in the rest of the World Series, but immediately after toeing the rubber for the first time in the Fall Classic, Ohtani was already thinking about the next time he could get on the mound.

“It depends on how long the series goes, but if thereâ€s a possibility Iâ€ll be needed in any of the games, I want to be ready,” Ohtani said in Japanese after Game 4 on Tuesday night. “There could be games like yesterdayâ€s that go into extra innings and donâ€t get decided for a while, so I want to stay prepared to pitch at any time.â€

The bullpen volatility the Dodgers weathered during the regular season has carried into the postseason. Roki Sasaki has been the only consistent arm in the ‘pen, and constructing a bridge to the closer has been a particular issue during the World Series.

They saw it on Wednesday, when Edgardo Henriquez came off two scoreless innings in Game 3 but could not retire any of the three batters he faced in Game 5. Blake Treinen, who had either given up a run or allowed inherited runners to score in three straight outings, pitched a clean inning. There has been little predictability in what the Dodgers can get out of several of their arms on a given night.

With the World Series set to be decided in Toronto, the Dodgers only have so many games remaining. Ohtani is not going to make another traditional start. There’s nothing to be lost, only gained, by sending him to the mound one more time if the situation calls for it.

“Obviously, when you’re facing elimination, then you’ve got to have those conversations,” Roberts said. “So whatever it takes for us to win tomorrow. … We’re going to do whatever we can to put our best foot forward on the run-prevention side and then on the creation side in scoring runs, too.”

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