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By Peter Chawaga
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Dodgers surged to a second straight World Series thanks in large part to an outstanding starting staff.
Hurlers like Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Blake Snell led the team back to the championship series without too much of a challenge. But while he has been outstanding on both sides of the ball for the most part, Shohei Ohtani was unable to keep up that streak on Tuesday.
Ohtani gave up a homer to Toronto Blue Jays superstar Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in his most recent start and it seemed to give the momentum back to the American League winner as they tied up the series. Ohtani seemed to be disappointed in his performance after the game.
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“My goal was to go seven innings (on Tuesday), and it was regrettable that I wasn’t able to finish that inning,” Ohtani said after the game, per Reuters.
But after the disappointment, Ohtani had decided that he wants to take the mound again before this World Series is over.
“Of course, I’d like to prepare to be available for every game in case I’m needed,” Ohtani said, according to Los Angeles Times columnist Dylan Hernandez.
If Ohtani is deployed again on the mound, it would almost certainly be in a relief role. That is something he has famously done before, closing out Japan’s first-place finish in the most recent World Baseball Classic tournament. While it would be pretty astounding for Ohtani to serve as a relief pitcher in addition to starting a game and performing as a standout leadoff hitter, it’s hard to count out the two-way superstar from virtually any accomplishment.
“Ohtani wants to pitch again in the World Series,” Hernandez added. “Instead of moping over the setback, Ohtani has started eyeing his next boundary-pushing maneuver: To be a leadoff hitter and high-leverage reliever in the same game.”
Time will tell if the Dodgers really call upon Ohtani in a high-leverage pitching situation. But after the Blue Jays took Game 4, it seems the Dodgers could need even more out of their two-way superstar.
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