MLB Is Being Urged To Change 'Unfair' Shohei Ohtani Rule

The Los Angeles Dodgers are the best team in baseball again.

The two-time defending World Series champions are off to an electric start this year. The Dodgers are 15-5 on the season. They've lost just one series so far this year, as Cleveland was able to take two of three games from Los Angeles in early April.

Los Angeles, led by MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani, has a ton of advantages. The Dodgers carry the biggest payroll in the sport. They get more TV money than everyone else. They spend more money on player development, research, analytics, etc. than everyone else, too.

But now, they're facing accusations of being on the right side of an "unfair" MLB rule.

MLB insider Jim Bowden is calling out Major League Baseball, telling the league to change its unfair "Ohtani Rule."

The Dodgers, with Ohtani being a two-way player, are allowed to carry a ninth reliever, while every other MLB team is only allowed to carry eight.

"I think it's time #MLB revisits one aspect of the Ohtani rules and eradicate the exemption the #Dodgers get to carry a 9th reliever when all other 29 teams are only allowed 8. I'm ok with allowing him to DH when he pitches and remains in game but roster advantage not fair," Bowden wrote.

MLB fans are debating the Ohtani rule

MLB fans are taking to social media to debate the rule.

"Dodgers have a 6 man rotation when most other teams have 5. You don't know what you are talking about, as usual," one wrote.

"Genuinely curious has it even come into use yet where they get an advantage of having an extra pitcher?" one fan added.

"He is a competitive advantage. That's not a bad thing," one fan added.

"100 percent, they need to change it," one added.

Does Major League Baseball need to consider a change?

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This story was originally published April 19, 2026 at 12:50 PM.