Dodgers plan to start Ohtani in Game 7; Scherzer goes for Jays

With everything on the line Saturday night, los angeles dodgers plan to start shohei ohtani On short rest in Game 7. A final decision had not been made as of late Friday night, but the team is leaning in that direction.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said at a press conference after his team 3-1, season-saving win in Game 6 He left every pitcher yoshinobu yamamoto will be available.

This includes tyler glasnowJoe lined up to start Game 7, but came out of the bullpen to record the final three outs in Friday’s Game 6. This includes roki sasakiWho faced seven batsmen. And that includes Ohtani, whose easiest path to pitching has always been to open games rather than coming out of the bullpen.

Ohtani pitched six innings and threw 93 pitches in Game 4, taking the mound on three days’ rest. Ohtani had previously made one start on three days’ rest, but that was after completing only two innings in his previous start in 2023. Every other big league start Ohtani has made has come on five or six days’ rest.

However, due to the two-way rule, starting Ohtani ensured that he could remain in the game as the designated hitter after opting out as a pitcher. If he were to come in as a reliever and then go out while the game was still on, Ohtani would have to play in the outfield to get another at-bat. Closing games — as he did to close out the 2023 World Baseball Classic for his native Japan — is also an option, but warming up while batting or running the bases becomes even more complicated.

blue jays will start max shazer Every pitcher available in Game 7 and, to a lesser extent, outside of it kevin gosmanThis also includes the 22-year-old phenom trey yeswaysWho dominated the Dodgers in Wednesday’s Game 5, striking out 12 batters while throwing seven innings of one-run ball. Saturday was supposed to be the Yankees’ bullpen day. Instead, he could feature in the deciding game of the 2025 season.

“If the people making the decisions think it’s a good idea for the team, I’m all for it,” Yesavage said.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan contributed to this report.