In a thrilling and marathon Game 3 of the World Series, Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani once again proved nearly unstoppable, leaving the Toronto Blue Jays scrambling to find a way to contain his extraordinary talent. The Los Angeles Dodgers emerged victorious in the grueling 18-inning contest, edging out Toronto 6-5 in a game that matched the longest postseason affair by innings and ranked as the second-longest by duration, lasting six hours and 39 minutes. Ohtani’s phenomenal performance not only set new postseason records but also forced the Blue Jays to reconsider their pitching approach against one of baseball’s most dominant forces.
Throughout Game 3, Ohtani showcased a dazzling display of hitting prowess, reaching base an unprecedented nine times—surpassing the previous postseason record by three. His offensive output was nothing short of historic: he became the first player in postseason history to record multiple home runs, multiple doubles, and multiple walks in a single game. In his first four at-bats alone, Ohtani blasted two doubles and two home runs, leaving the Blue Jays pitching staff searching for answers. His relentless assault culminated in a game-tying home run in the seventh inning, a moment that seemed to solidify his dominance at the plate.
After witnessing Ohtani’s near-unhittable performance, Blue Jays manager John Schneider openly acknowledged the difficulty of pitching to the two-way star and indicated that his team might simply stop trying to pitch to him altogether. “He had a great game, he’s a great player, but I think after that, you just kind of take the bat out of his hands,” Schneider said following the Dodgers’ victory. When pressed on whether intentionally walking Ohtani for the remainder of the series was the plan, Schneider’s answer was a straightforward “Yeah.”
This strategy quickly became evident during the game. After Ohtani’s game-tying homer in the seventh inning, the Blue Jays intentionally walked him four times and unintentionally walked him once more, sending a clear message: avoid giving Ohtani any opportunity to hurt them further. Schneider’s assessment was blunt but respectful, calling Ohtani “arguably the best player on the planet.” The Blue Jays’ decision to pitch around Ohtani reflected both a tactical move and a sign of respect for the extraordinary threat he poses.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts echoed that sentiment, praising Schneider’s strategic approach and labeling Ohtani as “the best player on the planet.” Roberts noted that Schneider’s decision to essentially “take the bat out of his hands” was a rare and telling sign of respect, highlighting how exceptional Ohtani’s talent is that opposing managers are willing to go to such lengths to neutralize him. “You just don’t see that type of behavior from opposing managers and that’s just the ultimate sign of respect,” Roberts said.
Yet the Blue Jays’ plan to walk Ohtani repeatedly comes with a significant drawback. Behind Ohtani in the Dodgers’ formidable batting order are two former Most Valuable Players, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, both of whom have the ability to inflict serious damage. Even after intentionally walking Ohtani, Toronto faced the daunting task of pitching to these elite hitters. This was particularly evident in the 18th inning of Game 3, when Freeman delivered a walk-off home run to seal the Dodgers’ victory—a dramatic finish that mirrored his grand slam to win Game 1 of last year’s World Series.
Schneider acknowledged the challenge of pitching around Ohtani only to confront hitters like Betts and Freeman. “There’s certain times where I feel like you feel better about someone else beating you,” Schneider admitted. “If that someone else is Mookie Betts or Freddie Freeman it still stings. But [Ohtani] had a great game and we’re just going to try to continue to execute.” His comments underscore the precarious balancing act the Blue Jays face: avoiding Ohtani’s bat at all costs, while still having to contend with a powerful lineup that follows him.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays will find it even harder to sidestep Ohtani in Game 4, as the two-way phenom is slated to make his World Series pitching debut. As a pitcher, Ohtani brings a unique challenge, combining elite velocity with deceptive movement and the ability to dominate hitters on the mound. His presence on the mound adds another layer of complexity to an already difficult