The Chicago Cubs enter this crucial series against the Los Angeles Dodgers not only under pressure to achieve results, but also with the feeling of playing in an “unbalanced game.” When head coach Craig Counsell frankly called an MLB rule “bizarre,” he wasn’t just talking about the rule – he was talking about the real advantage the Cubs face on the field.

In baseball, where every position on the roster is meticulously calculated, the lack of even one bullpen option can change the entire game. And that’s precisely the problem the Cubs are facing.

Under current MLB rules, each team is limited to 13 pitchers on a 26-player roster. But with Shohei Ohtani on the Dodgers – a two-way player – the Los Angeles team can flexibly use him without counting towards the pitcher limit. This translates to a clear fact: the Dodgers essentially have an extra pitcher than the Cubs.

And for Counsell, this is no longer a minor detail.

“You don’t see this happening anywhere else,” Counsell emphasized. Not because he denies Ohtani’s talent, but because he understands the tactical impact of this difference.

In a tense series, when the main pitchers are fatigued, having an extra bullpen option can be game-changers.

For the Cubs, it means they have to manage their pitching staff more cautiously, making fewer mistakes – while their opponents have more room to maneuver.

What frustrates the Cubs isn’t just the advantage, but the feeling of being unable to “respond.”

Because, theoretically, this rule applies to all teams. But in reality, almost no one else in MLB currently can do what Ohtani is doing.

And so, the Cubs had no way to “balance” that advantage.

In the locker room, the Cubs players didn’t openly criticize. But according to many sources, they understood the pressure was mounting.

A smaller pitcher meant the bullpen had to work harder. The relievers had to shoulder more innings. And as the season dragged on, wear and tear would accumulate.

That’s not what you want when facing a strong lineup like the Dodgers.

The story becomes even more noteworthy as the Cubs were in a phase where they needed stability. Games against top opponents like the Dodgers were not just a challenge – but an opportunity to assert themselves.

But going into a game feeling strategically outmatched, psychological pressure was inevitable.

However, Counsell didn’t use this as an excuse.

Instead, he turned it into a challenge.

“We still have to play better. That’s the only thing we can control,” he emphasized.

For the Cubs, this is no longer a theoretical debate – it’s a practical problem to solve right on the court.

From another perspective, the Cubs are also proving something: they don’t need a special advantage to compete.

This team has built its identity on discipline, tactics, and team spirit. And those very elements will be tested to the fullest in this series.

Nevertheless, the debate will continue.

Because the question Counsell posed isn’t just for the Cubs:

Can a rule be considered fair when only one team actually benefits from it?

While MLB hasn’t made any changes, the Cubs are forced to adapt.

They have to play smarter. Shoot more accurately. And take advantage of every small opportunity.

Because when you don’t have the advantage…

You have no choice but to create it.

And perhaps, it is in circumstances like these that a team’s character is truly defined.

The Cubs don’t choose their circumstances.

But they can choose how they react.

And the series against the Dodgers will show who they truly are… when things aren’t going their way.