Cubs' Craig Counsell Calls Out 'Bizarre' MLB Rule That Helps Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers

The Chicago Cubs could use more healthy pitchers than perhaps any other team in baseball in the early going of the 2026 season, and manager Craig Counsell believes it is "bizarre" that only one club can carry 14 pitchers.

As Jay Cohen of the Associated Press explained Monday, Major League Baseball teams are permitted to carry up to 13 pitchers on their roster until Sept. 1 when rosters expand and that number becomes 14.

However, the Los Angeles Dodgers can carry 14 pitchers because Shohei Ohtani is designated as a two-way player.

"It's a rule to help offense, I think, more than anything, if you ask me," Counsell said. "And then there's one team that's allowed to carry basically one of both, and that he gets special consideration. Which is probably the most bizarre rule. ... For one team."

Players can be designated as two-way if they pitched at least 20 innings and made at least 20 starts as a position player or designated hitter with at least three plate appearances per start in either the current season or either of the last two.

Ohtani is the only player who meets that criteria, so the Dodgers are the only team that can carry 14 pitchers.

Another Ohtani Leadoff HR 🔥

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"There's not another player like that, but one team gets different rules for that player," Counsell said.

The comments come after Chicago has been decimated by injuries to its pitching staff.

Maddy Dickens of Sports Illustrated summarized the situation and noted Cade Horton (out for season), Justin Steele, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Palencia, Ethan Roberts, Jordan Wicks, Phil Maton, Hunter Harvey, Porter Hodge and Shelby Miller are all on the injured list.

What's more, highly regarded prospect Jaxon Wiggins is on the injured list in the minor league levels and isn't even a call-up option as the team deals with these issues.

Horton, Steele and Boyd are arguably the top three starting pitchers on the team, while Palencia is the closer. Harvey and Maton were also expected to pitch significant innings for the bullpen as set-up options ahead of Palencia late in games.

It might help the Cubs' chances to tread water if they were allowed to carry an additional pitcher, but they, along with every team but the Dodgers, can only carry 13.