LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani could pitch out of the bullpen for the Los Angeles Dodgers when the World Series goes back to Toronto this weekend.

Ohtani has never pitched in relief during his major league career. He made a handful of relief appearances in Japan for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, mostly as a rookie in 2013.

The two-way superstar did close out Japan's victory in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, coming out of the bullpen and memorably striking out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout of Team USA to end it.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he hadn't yet spoken to Ohtani about where he fits into the team's pitching plans for the rest of the best-of-seven Series.

“When you're talking about Game 6, potentially Game 7 of the World Series, all hands on deck,” Robe

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