By nearly every measure, the Dodgers’ bullpen is a liability, ranking 13th in MLB with a 4.11 ERA and, most damning, 23 blown saves, tied for 10th-most in MLB, with a save percentage of just 62% (4th worst among the contending teams).  And bullpen meltdowns directly fueled a five-game losing streak against non-contenders—the Pirates and Orioles—in September alone.

On their September 6 game vs. the Orioles, manager Dave Roberts turned to the bullpen just after Yoshinobu Yamamoto carried an almost no-hitter into the ninth. Relievers Blake Treinen and Tanner Scott combined to allow a walk, a double, and a hit-by-pitch before giving up a walk-off single, and the historic night turned into a defeat in the blink of an eye.  Legend, Jerry Hairston Jr said after the match, “Once the postseason begins, Ohtani should take over as the closer. Please correct me if I’m wrong.”

Now, the idea of using superstar Shohei Ohtani as a closer isn’t just fan speculation anymore, as Manager Dave Roberts has openly admitted it’s a possibility. “There’s obviously thoughts about that,” Roberts mentioned during their Baltimore tour. “I can’t answer that question right now. But we’re going to do whatever we feel gives us the best chance to give us a chance to win. And I know Shohei would be open to whatever. We haven’t certainly made that decision yet, though.”

But here’s a major catch. A specific MLB rule makes this plan extremely complicated.

Ohtani is allowed to remain in the game as the designated hitter even after his outing is over as a starting pitcher, but that rule excludes relief pitchers. So when Ohtani starts a game as the designated hitter (DH) and then enters to pitch as a reliever, the Dodgers immediately lose their DH for the rest of the game. The pitcher’s spot would be forced into the batting lineup.

This is a huge penalty that managers rarely plan to forfeit their DH and only do it out of pure necessity, like in a long extra-inning game when all their bench players have been used.

But Ohtani is no stranger to this role

He has a brief but legendary history of closing out high-stakes games. He famously struck out superstar Mike Trout to win the World Baseball Classic championship for Japan in 2023. And he also saved a crucial playoff game in Japan, hitting a record 102.5 mph on the radar gun.

And this season, recovering from surgery, Ohtani has struck out 49 batters in just 36 innings while walking only eight. That incredible command and pinpoint control are the exact tools of a lockdown closer.

And the team’s bullpen crisis is deeper than ever right now, with their expensive free-agent acquisition, Tanner Scott, leading all of baseball with nine blown saves. Vets like Kirby Yates and Blake Treinen have been shaky all season. This has forced the team to rely heavily on a trio of rookies: Ben Casparius, Jack Dreyer, and Justin Wrobleski.

The expected return of Alex Vesia on coming Tuesday from injury, and Brusdar Graterol’s return, should provide some help, though. But the idea of using Ohtani as a closer remains a “storybook” option for a team desperate for help.

The Dodgers can’t just throw Ohtani into the closer role without a second thought, as the bat is simply too valuable to lose.  His performance at the plate can certainly win him a fourth MVP award, as he is leading the National League in slugging percentage (.612) and OPS (1.002) and third in the league with 48 home runs, and leads all of baseball with 128 runs scored. Taking that bat out of the lineup, even for one inning, is a massive price that the Dodgers do not choose to pay.