Shohei Ohtani has never been afraid of the spotlight, but on October 4, 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two-way superstar found himself facing a challenge unlike any before. In Game 1 of the National League Division Series (NLDS) against the Philadelphia Phillies, Ohtani made his much-anticipated playoff pitching debut—a moment that sent a buzz through Citizens Bank Park and the baseball world at large. The night, however, was far from routine for the reigning MVP, who had to dig deep to overcome early adversity and help propel the Dodgers to a hard-fought 5-3 victory.
Ohtani’s outing was historic before he even threw a pitch. According to Major League Baseball records, he became the first player ever to start at least one postseason game as a pitcher and at least one as a non-pitcher in the same playoff run. Adding to the lore, he batted higher than eighth in the Dodgers’ lineup—a feat not seen since Babe Ruth hit sixth for the Boston Red Sox in Game 4 of the 1918 World Series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts summed up the moment, saying before the game, “I think as he takes the mound for the bottom half [of the first inning], I’m going to take a moment just to appreciate him doing something unprecedented.”
But if Ohtani’s presence was historic, his first few innings on the mound were anything but smooth. The Phillies, defending NL East champions, wasted little time putting pressure on the Japanese sensation. In a second inning that nearly put the game out of reach for Los Angeles, Ohtani allowed a walk to Alec Bohm, a single to Brandon Marsh, and then a rocket triple to J.T. Realmuto that brought home two runs. Harrison Bader’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0, and the notoriously rowdy Philadelphia crowd let Ohtani hear it with chants of “Sho-hei! Sho-hei!”
“He’s not always going to be perfect,” Roberts acknowledged after the game. Still, Ohtani’s ability to compartmentalize—something Roberts has often praised—came to the fore. After that brutal second inning, Ohtani settled down, pitching four scoreless frames and retiring 15 of the last 17 hitters he faced. He finished his night with nine strikeouts, the third most by a Dodgers pitcher in their career playoff debut. Only Don Newcombe (11 in 1949) and Tim Belcher (10 in 1988) have fanned more in their first postseason outing for Los Angeles. Ohtani threw 89 pitches over six innings, a testament to his resilience and focus under pressure.
Despite his heroics on the mound, Ohtani’s night at the plate was one to forget. Coming into the game, he had never homered in Philadelphia, and that drought continued. He went 0-for-4 with a walk and struck out four times—a rare off day for a player who has dazzled with his bat all season. “It’s really never been done, certainly at this level,” Roberts marveled. “To look at the at-bats he took tonight and how he struggled offensively, to separate that and just be a pitcher … and keep us in the ballgame. I don’t know any other human that can manage those emotions, how do you not take to the mound? We continue to just witness history.”
The Dodgers, however, refused to let Ohtani’s offensive struggles define the night. After falling behind early, Los Angeles chipped away at the Phillies’ lead. Kiké Hernández delivered a crucial two-run double in the sixth inning to cut the deficit to 3-2, breathing new life into the Dodgers dugout. Then, in the seventh, Teoscar Hernández stepped up with the defining moment of the game—a towering three-run homer that put Los Angeles ahead for good.
Ohtani was quick to praise his teammate’s clutch performance. Speaking through a translator, he said, “It was a wonderful moment. I think it was the kind of moment that made you think, ‘This is the postseason.’” The Dodgers’ bullpen—anchored by Tyler Glasnow, Alex Vesia, and closer Roki Sasaki—slammed the door on the Phillies over the final three innings, preserving the 5-3 win and giving Los Angeles control of the best-of-five series.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman didn’t mince words when discussing Ohtani’s impact. “I just don’t think the human brain can comprehend what he does and how difficult it is and how he is elite at both,” Friedman said. “The passion he has for hitting and the passion he has for pitching, it doesn’t seem like there’s enough passion to go around, but there is with him.”
Ohtani’s sense of the moment was evident even in the game’s closing stages. During his ninth-inning at-bat, he showed bunt and stepped out of the batter’s box—subtle moves designed to buy time for Sasaki to warm up in the bullpen. It was a small but telling example of the baseball IQ and team-first mentality that have made Ohtani a transcendent figure in the sport.
For all the focus on Ohtani, the Dodgers’ win was a true team effort. While Ohtani’s pitching steadied the ship after early turbulence, it was the timely hitting and shutdown relief pitching that ultimately swung the game. “The comeback was necessary because of a second inning that started with a walk by Alec Bohm,” one observer noted, highlighting how quickly the Phillies’ lineup can pounce. Yet, the Dodgers’ resilience shone through, with key contributions up and down the roster.
Looking ahead, the Dodgers appear to have the upper hand in the series. With Blake Snell scheduled to start Game 2 and Yoshinobu Yamamoto set for Game 3 at Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles boasts a formidable rotation. If the series goes the distance, Ohtani will be available to pitch again on six days’ rest—a tantalizing prospect for Dodgers fans dreaming of a repeat World Series title.
Ohtani, for his part, remained focused and humble in the aftermath. “I was a little nervous imagining myself out there on the mound,” he admitted. “But once I was on the mound and on the field, that went away, and it was really me focusing. I was able to enjoy the atmosphere. The reason why I’m a two-way player is because that’s who I am, it’s what I can do and, at the same time, it’s what the team wants.”
As the Dodgers prepare for Game 2, all eyes remain on Ohtani and his teammates. Their dramatic comeback in Philadelphia has set the tone for a thrilling NLDS, and if Saturday night was any indication, baseball fans are in for a wild ride. The Dodgers, buoyed by their two-way superstar and a deep roster, are one step closer to defending their crown—but the Phillies won’t go quietly. The action continues Monday, and with Ohtani poised for more history, the story is far from over.
