Boston Red Sox legend David Ortiz — now an analyst for FOX — already has his pick for World Series MVP … that is, if the Los Angeles Dodgers win Game 7 on Saturday night. During FOX’s postgame coverage of LA’s 3-1 win in Game 6, Ortiz shared his pick: Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“I’m going to make myself clear: if the Dodgers win the World Series tomorrow, Yamamoto is my MVP,” Ortiz said. “Without a doubt … the Dodgers (would not be) where they are without him. … (Their) confidence level raised up today because he was on the mound. This is a guy that, the other day, two days after his (complete game) outing, he was ready to come out of the bullpen. … This is a real trooper right here.”

It’s hard to disagree with Big Papi. After a complete game win in Game 2, Yamamoto threw six innings of one-run ball on Friday. His 2025 World Series stats currently sit at 2-0 with an ERA of 1.20 and 14 strikeouts in the two appearances.

Ortiz wasn’t kidding about Yamamoto’s readiness to pitch in Game 3, either. As that game entered the 18th inning, Yamamoto — after affirming to LA that he was available to pitch — was actually sent to go start warming up by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Freddie Freeman ensured that Yamamoto never had to take the mound that night, however.

As the World Series moves to its final game, Yamamoto is ironically the only pitcher unavailable to the Dodgers, a status reiterated by Roberts during postgame interviews on Friday. Shohei Ohtani will reportedly start Game 7 for LA.