Dodger rivals frustrated by “Shohei Ohtani” rule

In the playoffs, each MLB team is limited to a maximum roster of 26 players with a maximum of 13 pitchers.

Except perhaps the Los Angeles Dodgers.

That's because Shohei Ohtani will be able to enter the fall dance as a designated hitter and won't occupy one of the thirteen spots reserved for gunners, even though the Dodgers plan to use Nippon as a starting pitcher in October.

This certainly gives the California outfit a distinct advantage, and some Major League Baseball organizations are frustrated by the situation, as Bob Nightengale reports.

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Teams are upset that the Dodgers have one more pitcher in their lineup than everyone else, since there's a special exemption for Shohei Ohtani as a “two-way” player.

Frustration is understandable, but just because the star of the land of the rising sun is a phenomenon in his own right doesn't mean that the “Shohei Ohtani” rule should be applied any differently.

If Ohtani starts a game as the starting pitcher in the playoffs, he can stay in the game as the designated hitter once he's replaced on the mound. If the Japanese starts the game as a designated hitter and pitches in relief, the Dodgers would lose the designated hitter position once his relief appearance is over, unless they place Ohtani in the outfield, where he hasn't pitched since 2021.

The 31-year-old has expressed a willingness to play the outfield if it means giving the Dodgers an edge in the playoff lineup. However, it's likely, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, that Ohtani won't make a single appearance on the outfield turf during the fall dance.

This content was created with the help of AI.