Cubs Manager Craig Counsell Thinks Shohei Ohtani’s Roster Spot Gives Dodgers Unfair Advantage

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by Sam LanierApril 27, 2026, 1:06 am >

The Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers faced off in Los Angeles, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell was talking about the upcoming series against the defending champions.

Counsell told reporters that he has “never understood” the two-way rule for global sensation Shohei Ohtani, claiming that it is an “offensive rule” made to benefit the Dodgers.

“It’s an offensive rule, essentially. It’s a rule to help offense, more than anything, if you ask me. And then there’s one team that’s allowed to carry basically one of both, and he gets special consideration, which is probably the most bizarre rule. For one team.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts fired back at Counsell, saying, “The thing is, it certainly benefits us because we have the player. We’re more than willing for other teams to go out and find a player who can do both. He’s an exception because he’s an exceptional player. It is what it is.”

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The rules to qualify as a two-way player require a player to pitch at least 20 innings as a starter or reliever and to start 20 games as a position player or DH, with at least 3 plate appearances in those games.

Ohtani did just that last season, earning him the label of a “two-way” player on the roster.

This seems to be a bizarre gripe from Counsell, as the rule was introduced in 2020, when Ohtani was with the Los Angeles Angels.

However, the one actual problem that would make sense for Counsell to have is that the MLB quietly changed the rule in 2024, making it so the player would only have to meet the criteria in the two previous seasons rather than one, which allowed Ohtani to be labeled as a “two-way” player despite his elbow surgery. This allowed the Dodgers way more roster flexibility than other teams.

The Dodgers hold the best record in baseball at 16-6, while the Cubs stand at 13-9. The managers of these two teams are already providing fireworks in what will be a fiery series at Dodger Stadium this weekend.