Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani works out ahead of Game 3 of the 2025 World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Los Angeles.Ashley Landis/The Associated Press
Shohei Ohtani is lined up to take the mound for the Dodgers in Tuesday’s Game 4 against the Blue Jays, making his World Series pitching debut.
The Japanese superstar already has a World Series title – won in his first postseason, and in the first year of his record-breaking contract with the Dodgers. But Ohtani didn’t pitch during that 2024 championship run.
After developing into MLB’s premier two-way player with the Los Angeles Angels, the pitching part of Ohtani’s career was put on hold after he had right elbow surgery in 2023. He signed with the Dodgers the following off-season and spent 2024 exclusively as the club’s designated hitter. He made his return to pitching in June, 2025.
Blue Jays come out on the wrong end of marathon World Series Game 3
So his World Series start on Tuesday, before a home crowd at Dodger Stadium, will be a special one.
Especially since it comes on the heels of arguably the most dominant MLB postseason performance ever, during Game 4 of the National League Championship Series – a game that helped the Dodgers clinch their second straight trip to the Fall Classic.
While completing a sweep of baseball’s best regular season team, the Milwaukee Brewers, Ohtani tossed six scoreless innings last Friday, while racking up 10 strikeouts against three walks. He also mashed three home runs in the game.
Ohtani is tagged out by Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa after an attempted steal during the ninth inning in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday in Los Angeles.Brynn Anderson/The Associated Press
The 31-year-old right-hander is 2-0 in his two postseason starts for the Dodgers, allowing just five hits and three earned runs across 12 combined innings of work.
His postseason pitching debut came Game 1 of the NLDS against the Philadelphia Phillies, when he allowed three hits and three runs through six innings but fanned nine batters in a 5-3 victory.
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Ohtani can look to the success that fellow starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto had in a complete-game effort against the Jays in Game 2, allowing four hits and just one run while striking out eight batters.
“Yoshi navigated that lineup really well. You have to really have good stuff to be able to put up good results,” Ohtani said through his translator. “So for myself, I’m just trying to put myself in the best position to be able to make sure that I can navigate and put up good results.”
Shane Bieber will get the nod for the Blue Jays in Game 4. The 2020 Cy Young Award winner will also be making his first career start in a World Series.