The Toronto Blue Jays entered Wednesday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers not just looking to salvage the series and avoid a sweep, but also trying to get back into the win column. Toronto is in the midst of a six‑game losing streak.
It was a tough assignment, as the Dodgers sent two‑way superstar Shohei Ohtani to the mound for his second start of the season.
In his first outing, Ohtani tossed six scoreless innings, struck out six batters and allowed just one hit. Still, the Blue Jays always feel they have a chance to produce, especially with designated hitter George Springer at the top of the lineup.
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However, as the Blue Jays came to bat in the bottom of the first inning after Ohtani and the Dodgers were held scoreless in the top half, Springer was visibly upset between innings. He approached home plate umpire Dan Bellino to question the amount of warm‑up time Ohtani was given.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts noticed the exchange and took exception in the dugout. Ohtani had been on the bases during the top half of the inning, forcing him to return to the dugout to remove his gear and grab his glove, which likely contributed to the extended warm‑up period.
Still, Springer clearly felt the timing was improper and unjustified. He later collected a base hit off Ohtani in his first plate appearance.
This is not the first time Toronto has raised concerns about Ohtani receiving additional warm‑up time. During Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre, Blue Jays manager John Schneider appeared to voice similar complaints to the umpires.
In that game, Ohtani was allowed extra time to prepare after batting, stretching his warm‑ups beyond the standard 90 seconds typically allowed.
With tensions already high between the two clubs after last year's dramatic Fall Classic, Springer’s reaction only added another layer to a growing history of disputes involving Ohtani’s unique two‑way workload.
