Shohei Ohtani rule: why Dodgers get an extra pitcher

When Chicago Cubs skipper Craig Counsell raised a question about roster fairness this week, it landed with barely a ripple — not because the issue was insignificant, but because most observers already understand the exception at the center of the debate. Counsell was referring to the Dodgers’ practical ability to carry an extra arm on game day, an allowance tied directly to one player who defies baseball’s usual roles.

The conversation isn’t just about a number on a roster sheet. It’s about Shohei Ohtani: a two-way superstar whose value as both a hitter and a pitcher has prompted MLB to bend conventional roster mechanics. That flexibility has opponents wondering whether the game’s balance is being altered for one player — and whether the rules should be changed.

Why the Dodgers get an extra pitcher when Ohtani is on the roster

Major League Baseball made an exception to roster rules to reflect a rare reality: a player who legitimately fills a starting pitcher’s role and also contributes as an everyday hitter. Teams typically are limited in how many pitchers they can carry on the active roster, but the Ohtani situation creates an effective workaround for the Dodgers.

• The rationale: Ohtani occupies two high-value roles on the same day — he starts on the mound and then, under the league’s adaptation, can remain in the batting lineup as the designated hitter after he’s relieved. That arrangement changes how a club manages its bullpen because a roster spot that might have been used differently becomes effectively available.
• League intent: The exception was intended to accommodate a player who can legitimately perform both jobs at a major-league level without forcing awkward lineup or substitution decisions that would penalize a team for having a unique talent.
• Practical effect: Opponents view it as the equivalent of a 14th pitcher on days Ohtani DHs after pitching, even though the roster limit itself hasn’t changed.

Ohtani’s 2026 season: why the hybrid role matters

Ohtani’s performance this year has reinforced why the rule exists. While splitting time between mound work and everyday hitting, he’s produced dominant numbers on both fronts. Through his first four starts he surrendered only one earned run in roughly two dozen innings, registering a sub‑0.40 ERA — a startling mark that few Dodgers pitchers have matched in their early-season starts. At the plate, he’s been a force as well, contributing multiple homers, a clutch RBI total and several runs scored.

Combine those outputs and the competitive impact becomes clear: you’re not dealing with a pitcher who hits a bit, or a hitter who throws in mop-up duty. This is a player who can change games from either side of the ball, and teams set up differently when they can count on contributions in both roles.

How the so-called “Ohtani rule” changed lineup strategy

There’s another wrinkle that often gets labeled the “Ohtani rule.” In 2022 MLB clarified that when a two-way player starts on the mound and then is removed from pitching, he may remain in the lineup as the designated hitter rather than being replaced in the batting order by the relief pitcher who takes his mound duties.

• This contrasts with pre-2022 practice, where the incoming reliever would occupy the batting slot of the departed starter in American League play.
• The change preserves a team’s offensive continuity when its starter also serves as a bona fide hitter.
• Critics argue the exemption bends traditional substitution strategy and can be leveraged to gain a bench or bullpen edge.

In short: the DH exception lets a team keep an extra offensive option in play after the pitching responsibility shifts, which can ripple through managerial decisions later in the game.

Voices in the debate: managers, executives and pundits weigh in

When Counsell publicly questioned the fairness of the Dodgers’ effective roster advantage, his remarks echoed a broader chorus of commentary. A former MLB general manager pushed for eliminating the extra-pitcher allowance, while stating he’s comfortable with Ohtani’s ability to remain in the lineup after pitching. Counsell’s point, framed as bewilderment at an unusual rule, landed as a prompt for discussion rather than an attack.

The Dodgers’ manager responded in a more straightforward manner: the benefit exists because the club has the player who creates the situation, and any team that could find or develop a similar two-way talent would enjoy the same flexibility. He described Ohtani as an outlier whose skill set is the true cause of the exception.

Key reactions summarized

• Some league observers want a cleaner, universal standard to prevent what they see as a competitive imbalance.
• Others argue the exemption is simply an administrative recognition of an unprecedented player type and that changing it would punish the team for acquiring unique talent.
• MLB officials have so far maintained the accommodation, emphasizing that rules must occasionally be adaptive to fit exceptional circumstances.

Why other clubs don’t produce more two-way stars

The short answer is risk and resource allocation. Turning a top prospect into a consistent pitcher and a reliable everyday hitter requires patience, specialized coaching, and an organizational appetite for long-term investment. Most teams are unwilling to expose a premium hitter to arm injury risk or to put a frontline pitcher through the wear of regular batting and base-running.

That conservative calculus is what made the Nippon-Ham Fighters’ earlier investment in Ohtani so consequential. Their development path allowed him to hone both crafts before he arrived in MLB, creating a player whose value demanded a novel approach.

• Teams worry about injury risk and lost value if one discipline falters.
• Club philosophies emphasize protecting assets: a slugger is too valuable to risk on the mound, and a pitcher is too important to risk at the plate.
• Successful two-way development requires aligning scouting, coaching and medical approaches — a heavy lift few franchises are prepared to attempt.

How the matchup with the Cubs will play out

The narrative heats up at the ballpark: the Dodgers host the Cubs for a three-game set starting Friday. While Ohtani isn’t scheduled to pitch in that series, he’s expected to occupy a regular spot in the Dodgers’ batting order and contribute as the lineup’s designated hitter each game.

Managerial chess and roster deployment will be under scrutiny as Counsell’s club attempts to offset the tactical edge the Dodgers claim when they deploy their unique roster mix. Fans and analysts will be watching whether the strategic advantage shows up in late-inning decisions or in how managers handle matchups and bullpen usage.

You might also like:

• Shohei Ohtani: Blue Jays issue intentional walk one at-bat too late
• Los Angeles Dodgers look unstoppable: can anyone stop them this season?
• Dodgers vs Blue Jays World Series predictions: 7 bold picks
• Blue Jays’ historic grand slam leads to 11-4 game 1 win over Dodgers
• Los Angeles Dodgers look unstoppable after back-to-back dominant pitching performances

John Davis

John Davis is a sports journalist focused on the NBA, NFL, and major global championships. With seven years of live coverage, he breaks down performances and key strategies. His expertise gives you a clear view of every game and its impact.