Commentary: Why Shohei Ohtani's Game 4 failure will drive him to pitch again in this World Series

"By the time Ohtani walked into the interview room at Dodger Stadium after his team's 6-2 defeat in Game 4 of the World Series, however, he was already devising his redemption. "Of course, I'd like to prepare to be available for every game in case I'm needed," Ohtani said in Japanese. Ohtani wants to pitch again in this World Series. He wants to pitch again, even after he was saddled with the loss on Tuesday night by the Toronto Blue Jays."

"Pitching in middle relief doesn't make sense for Ohtani, considering that when he departs the game as a pitcher, rules would require the Dodgers to play him in the outfield or lose him as a hitter for the remainder of the game. They might as well use him as a closer, and they might as well use him in a World Series clincher, either in Game 6 or 7."

"He won't let the disappointment of his World Series pitching debut scare him away from pursuing another dream. He isn't afraid of failure. Game 4 was a failure. The six-hour 39-minute game the Dodgers played the night before offered Ohtani cover. He reached base a record nine times. He homered twice and doubled twice. His leg cramped at some point. He went to sleep at 2 a.m."

Shohei Ohtani allowed four runs over six innings in a World Series Game 4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays and appeared visibly exhausted. He had reached base nine times in an 18-inning victory the previous night, homering twice and doubling twice while dealing with leg cramps and limited rest. Despite the physical toll and taking the loss, he expressed a desire to be available to pitch again, likely in relief or as a closer. Rules would force the Dodgers to place him in the outfield or remove him as a hitter if he leaves as a pitcher. His competitiveness and refusal to accept setbacks position him as a potential decisive contributor as the series is now tied.

Read at Los Angeles Times