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Containing Shohei Ohtani is key to the Blue Jays’ World Series success
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Photo credit: © Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Nick Prasad
Oct 29, 2025, 11:00 EDTUpdated: Oct 29, 2025, 08:21 EDT
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The Toronto Blue Jays have seen exactly what they expected from the face of the Los Angeles Dodgers. How they manage Shohei Ohtani offensively the rest of the series will be very impactful towards their World Series success.
The Ohtani hype is not a myth; the calibre of player they say he is displays exactly that. The right-hander is an elite pitcher, but he’s a machine with the bat. As effective as the Blue Jays’ rotation is, they are not immune to the powers of the Dodgers’ two-way giant. Game 3 of the World Series was a testament to what a superstar of his level can do.
Ohtani was extremely productive and contributing, both voluntarily and involuntarily. In the six-hour and change, 18-inning game, Ohtani saw nine plate appearances and four recorded at-bats, collecting four hits, two doubles, two home runs, three RBIs, scoring four times, and walking five times. This was a very productive game from the Japanese product in a matchup that depended on it. 
His postseason stats at the plate are impressive: 56 at-bats, 15 hits, eight home runs, 14 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and a .268 batting average with a 1.182 OPS. These numbers are significant factors in the Dodgers’ success so far, and will continue to be if the Blue Jays don’t execute a game plan against Ohtani. 

Blue Jays need to execute a pitching plan to tame Ohtani at the plate 

One option the Blue Jays can turn to in a pinch is the intentional walk. After Seranthony Dominguez got burned on a fastball off of Ohtani’s bat days ago, the Blue Jays smartened up and awarded him a free bag each time in the eventual loss, not wanting to risk facing the power bat. 
Unfortunately, they’ll be forced to pitch to him, and that needs to be strategic. You cannot miss your spot with Ohtani, amongst other Dodgers bats. He has bat speed, making velocity a non-issue. His bat speed ranges from 79 – 82 mph, getting his barrel and launch on point. Ohtani’s power ability to use all fields is impressive, and is annoying for opposing pitchers. Late-breaking pitches that sit below the knees are what may force him to hit the ball in the dirt. This could force ground-outs. 
The Blue Jays’ pitching staff is not stacked with guys that are living 100-plus mph, making a flat 96-98 mph lunch meat. Making mistakes in the zone can be game-fatal, such as that Dominguez plate appearance, while spotting up in vulnerable areas could be a problem. Fastballs aren’t exactly the best idea to throw to Ohtani, but if so, keep it at knees and below, on the outside part of the plate. 
The fastball would be primarily to establish the count, and or break-up sequences, and change speeds. Working an effective off-speed that does not bleed into the wheelhouse of Ohtani is important, while avoiding mistakes. Sliders, sinkers, splitters, and curveballs could keep him guessing and off balance. 
Where to avoid? Middle-middle at the letters, middle-in between the belt and the letters, anything hanging in the zone, and anything in the dead heart of the zone. Ohtani doesn’t need to only work pull-side; he can shoot it the other way.
In the World Series, the Jays have struggled to find success against the power bat (.400/.591/.1.133 with three home runs), but when they can contain him, good things happen for Toronto. In last night’s Blue Jays win, he went 0 for 3 in the box and got on base just one time via the walk, doing no damage against the Jays while also striking out twice. When the Jays won earlier this week in Game 1, Ohtani went 1 for 4 at the plate with a home run and a walk, and while that did put some runs on the board for the Dodgers, it wasn’t enough to cut into the 11-run deficit the Jays’ bats put up.
Mistakes unfortunately happen; however, mistakes to Ohtani, especially with runners on base, could cost you a lot. For the Blue Jays, their success in the postseason is tied to whether they can keep Shohei Ohtani contained at the plate, and as we witnessed last night, good things happen for Toronto when he can’t find his way on base. 

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