Ohtani willing to pitch out of bullpen in World Series

Game 4 might not be the last time we see Shohei Ohtani on the mound in the World Series.

After taking the loss in his first career World Series start, he said he'd be available out of the bullpen for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the final games of the series.

"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," Ohtani said in Japanese, according to Sonja Chen and Ayako Oikawa of MLB.com. "There could be games like (Game 3) that go into extra innings and don't get decided for a while, so I want to stay prepared to pitch at any time."

Manager Dave Roberts said prior to Game 5 that he hadn't yet talked to Ohtani about pitching in Toronto, but he would consider where the two-way superstar might fit into their pitching plans if needed.

"When you're talking about Game 6 (or) potential Game 7 of the World Series, (it's) all hands on deck, so we'll see where that goes. ... If he can go, if it makes sense, certainly he would be an option," Roberts told reporters Wednesday, according to Dodger Blue.

Ohtani has never come out of the bullpen in the majors. He did make several relief appearances while with Japan's Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters and famously saved the 2023 World Baseball Classic final for his country.

If he were to pitch in relief, it would create some unusual lineup issues for Roberts. The so-called "Ohtani Rule" allows for Ohtani to remain in the game as DH in games that he starts on the mound. However, if he came in to pitch as a reliever, the Dodgers would forfeit the DH, meaning they'd have to either move him to the outfield to keep his bat in the game after he was done pitching or take him out altogether.

Ohtani said in September that he'd be willing to play the outfield in the playoffs if necessary. He's made seven big-league appearances in the outfield, all of them in 2021 with the Los Angeles Angels before the "Ohtani Rule" was created.

Ohtani allowed four runs on six hits while striking out six and walking one in six-plus innings pitched during the Dodgers' Game 4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed a two-run homer to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third and departed after putting two runners on base to start the seventh.

At the plate, the three-time MVP followed up his historic Game 3 performance by going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts and a walk.