Oct 17, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers two-way player Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a solo home run against the Milwaukee Brewers during the seventh inning of game four of the NLCS round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

In Game 4 of the National League Championship Series, Shohei Ohtani showed exactly why he's baseball's best and most unique talent. That 10-strikeout, three-homer performance was also made possible in part by a rule MLB made to accommodate Ohtani's rare two-way talent.

When MLB switched to a universal DH, it carved out a way for a starting pitcher to still hit by using the designated hitter spot in the lineup. Under the old rules, that starting pitcher wouldn't be able to continue to hit once he was taken out of the game on the mound.

In 2022, MLB changed that with a "Shohei Ohtani rule." With the rule, the starting pitcher can remain in the game as the designated hitter even after being replaced on the mound.

The rule has been huge for the Dodgers now that Ohtani is back to pitching. In Game 4 of the NLCS, he pitched six innings of scoreless baseball. His third home run of the game, though, came in the seventh inning — after he had already been replaced on the mound.

It's made a major difference, and the rule will remain in place for the World Series.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: What is MLB's 'Shohei Ohtani rule' for the World Series?

Reporting by Andrew Joseph, For The Win / For The Win

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