The Los Angeles Dodgers are going for a 3-1 series lead in the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, as the two teams play Game 4 Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Of course, all eyes will be on Shohei Ohtani again, with the Japanese two-way superstar taking the mound as Los Angeles' starting pitcher.
Less than 24 hours since wreaking havoc at the plate and helping the Dodgers edge the Blue Jays via a 6-5 score in an epic 18-inning thriller in Game 3 for Los Angeles, Ohtani is toeing the rubber while also being listed as the team's designated hitter. If it feels like such double duty has never happened before in the history of the Fall Classic, it’s simply because it hasn’t.
“For the first time in World Series history, the DH is also the starting pitcher,” shared Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY via a social media post on X, formerly Twitter.
At this point, Dodgers fans have been excessively spoiled by the incredible talents and achievements of Shohei Ohtani, just like he did in Game 3.
In that contest, the reigning National League Most Valuable Player went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two home runs to go with three RBIs. He also nearly had a steal but was caught — perhaps the only bad thing he did in what was an otherwise memorable performance.
As for this pitching, Ohtani entered Game 4 of the Blue Jays series with just three earned runs on five hits to go with four walks and 19 strikeouts through 12.0 innings and two starts in the 2025 MLB postseason. In his previous mound appearance, he went six innings long, while allowing zero runs on two hits with 10 punchouts in a 5-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series.
In the 2025 regular season, Shohei Ohtani went 10-5 with a 2.87 ERA and 1.90 FIP through 14 starts.
