Before Shohei Ohtani had his first start in the World Series, his teammates reminded him that he’s just like anyone else. The Dodgers star has the reputation of being an “epic sleeper,” as noted by ESPN’s Buster Olney prior to Tuesday’s 6-2 defeat against the Blue Jays.
“Shohei Ohtani is known among his teammates as someone who can sleep for 12 hours regularly,” Olney shared on social media before Toronto tied the series at 2-2. “Everyone on the Jays and Dodgers needed it after Game 3.”
At 31, Ohtani aimed to get plenty of rest before his pitching debut in the Fall Classic, especially after a grueling record-tying 18-inning game the previous night, where he was heavily involved.
In Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani had an impressive performance, going 4-for-4 with two home runs, three RBIs, and five walks, helping secure a 6-5 win with Freddie Freeman’s walk-off homer. He was intentionally walked four times—setting a postseason record—and managed to reach base nine times, which ties for the most in MLB history.
The game concluded around 11:50 p.m. Pacific Time, significantly later than Ohtani’s usual bedtime. After the match, Tom Verducci asked Ohtani about how he felt ahead of his first World Series start, just 17 hours away.
He had a simple thought: “I want to go to bed early so I can get ready,” he said through an interpreter.
Unfortunately, Ohtani couldn’t replicate his previous game’s success in Game 4, where he gave up four runs and struck out six over six innings, resulting in a 6-2 loss for the Dodgers, which leveled the series.
Ohtani allowed two runs to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the third inning and two more in the seventh, contributing to Toronto’s four-run inning.
He faced challenges at the plate too, going 0-for-3 and striking out twice. Still, he made no excuses post-game, stating he felt he pitched in “pretty good shape” after a night of “quality sleep.”
Despite the loss, Ohtani expressed that going through such a hectic experience would only benefit him and his team moving forward. “Although we lost the match, I think it was a good experience to be able to experience this situation,” he noted.
The Dodgers are set to host the Blue Jays for Game 5 on Wednesday, before the series heads back to Toronto.
