Shohei Ohtani hits 18th homer in Dodgers’ victory

Ohtani has been granted a reprieve from facing the Athletics in the certifiable hitter’s paradise that is Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento during Wednesday afternoon’s series finale. It’ll be a bullpen game for the Dodgers instead. The 31-year-old generational talent will take the ball instead on Friday against the division-rival Padres back in Los Angeles after Roki Sasaki works the series opener on Thursday evening.

It’s going to be a tough decision for the National League skipper since Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski and Phillies ace Cristopher Sánchez both are deserving candidates to start the Midsummer Classic. There’s no scenario where Ohtani will be able to pitch in relief since he’s in the lineup at DH and won’t be able to warm up during the game. Simply put, Ohtani is either going to start the game or not pitch at all. There might not be a decision either way for a couple weeks.

Despite his usual heroics, Ohtani is on a bit of a cold streak on the mound – relative to his own greatness of course. This is now three consecutive starts where he’s allowed at least three earned runs after not doing so a single time before this stretch. Three runs, the horror. He also had some tense moments with catcher Dalton Rushing including a miscommunication regarding an ABS challenge and stern mound visit thereafter. Still, he forced 20 total swings-and-misses with 13 coming on his sweeper alone as his velocity was up about three ticks across the board. He threw 16 fastballs that reached 100 mph and topped out at 102. On top of that, he was in the middle of a Dodgers’ rally in the third inning with an RBI knock and came around to score shortly thereafter. He also had three hard-hit balls including a 111 mph lineout. Even in the games where it feels clunky he’s still so ridiculously impactful.

The Dodgers have made a real effort to limit Ohtani’s workload when he’s pitching this season. However, those considerations are completely out the window for this contest with the club having an off-day prior to Friday’s series opener against the Padres. Ohtani boasts a microscopic 1.47 ERA across 12 starts this season despite giving up seven earned runs combined over his last two outings.

Ohtani’s home run was his 17th of the season. He hit a solo shot off Zebby Matthews in the first inning. Ohtani now has three home runs in his last five games as a hitter. His lowest slugging percentage in a single-season over the last three years is .622, but this year Ohtani is slugging only .558. He’s scheduled to start against the Twins on Wednesday.

Ohtani went deep off Orioles reliever Andrew Kittredge on the eve of Father’s Day shortly after the arrival of his second child earlier in the week. The 114.6 mph moonshot was traveled 413 feet and broke up a potential shutout in the ninth inning. The 31-year-old generational talent was back in Los Angeles’ lineup following a one-game absence during Friday’s series opener while on paternity leave. The two-way superstar is scheduled to make his next pitching start against the Twins at Target Field on Wednesday.

Ohtani missed just the one game last night, though since he didn’t start at DH while pitching on Wednesday and the Dodgers were off Thursday, it’s his first time in the lineup in four days.

The club hasn’t officially placed Ohtani on the paternity list as the 31-year-old superstar is expected to return to the club before the weekend is through. They’ll play shorthanded for a day or two while Ohtani is away.

Ohtani surrendered two earned runs or fewer in every start through June 3, but he has given up seven total runs in his past two starts. It’s going well when regression only results in an ERA spike to 1.47, and he now has seven wins on the mound this season. Manager Dave Roberts noted before the game that his minor knee issue still isn’t fully behind him, and he didn’t hit for himself against Tampa Bay. Ohtani continues to perform well anyway, and he’ll remain an elite fantasy start next time out against Minnesota.

It seems the quick turnaround of the day game following a night game is playing a role here. It’s unclear who will DH in Ohtani’s place, but Max Muncy could be a possibility with Tommy Edman slated to play third.