Dodgers World Series: Shohei Ohtani Expected To Start Game 7 On Short Rest

It’s come down to Game 7 of the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, and both teams will have all hands on deck for the final game of the year.

Tyler Glasnow was originally lined up to start for the Dodgers, but he ended up earning a save in Game 6. It only came on three pitches, but that likely meant he would not be starting the following day.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts initially said the Dodges were undecided on who would start, but it appears they have their answer. Shohei Ohtani is expected to take the ball on short rest to start Game 7, according to Cody Stavenhagen and Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic:

Shohei Ohtani will start Saturday’s World Series Game 7 for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays, a team source told The Athletic.

Ohtani last started on Wednesday, making it three days of rest for the right-hander. He has yet to start on anything less than six days of rest for the Dodgers, but this was the expected outcome all along.

“I am. I am. We all are,” Roberts said when asked if he’s confident in Ohtani pitching on short rest. “This is Game 7, so there’s a lot of things that people haven’t done, and you’ve just got to trust your players and try to win a baseball game.

Ohtani would have been an option in relief, but this allows the Dodgers to keep his bat in the lineup as the designated hitter once he’s out of the game as a pitcher thanks to MLB’s two-way player rule. If Ohtani entered in relief, the Dodgers would have either had to use him in the outfield, or lose him in the lineup, if he exited as a pitcher.

“Just kind of figuring out what his temperature is on starting versus coming out of the pen, and so we’re close to a decision,” Roberts said of Ohtani after Game 6.

The Dodgers are now putting all their faith in Ohtani in the do-or-die game, and that has to have them feeling pretty good. The right-hander has thrown 18 innings this postseason with a 3.50 ERA, 25 strikeouts and a 0.89 WHIP.

How will Dodgers pitching look in Game 7?

Glasnow and Blake Snell are also options to pitch out of the bullpen. It’s unlikely Ohtani will pitch deep into the game, given he’s starting on short rest, but the Dodgers will have many options to get through the game. Glasnow likely will be utilized in a bulk role.

“Everyone will be available,” Roberts said, before later clarifying Yoshinobu Yamamoto won’t be.