Ohtani Shines in 5-Inning Victory, Marks Milestone Return

Shohei Ohtani achieved a significant milestone on August 6, 2023, as he pitched five innings for the first time since undergoing a second surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament. This performance helped the Los Angeles Dodgers secure a 5-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds and marked Ohtani’s first win with the team this season.

The game showcased Ohtani’s impressive return to form. His 87th pitch of the outing—a slider—induced a groundout, allowing him to complete the five innings, a crucial step in his rehabilitation process. Immediately after, Ohtani shifted gears, quickly putting on his batting gear to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning. He had already made a significant impact, contributing to a four-run rally and effectively limiting the Reds to just one run.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed his excitement for Ohtani, noting, “He was one hitter away from not getting a chance to get a win because of the pitch count, so I think it was good for him to get that win.” Currently, the Dodgers are managing Ohtani’s pitch count, aiming for approximately 90 pitches per outing as he continues to recover.

Ohtani’s performance was particularly noteworthy following two previous starts where he allowed a combined nine runs over 8.1 innings. In this game, he relied heavily on his breaking pitches, holding the Reds to just one run, courtesy of a solo home run by Noelvi Marte. He also struck out a season-high nine batters, demonstrating his skill and adaptability.

In this outing, Ohtani significantly increased his use of curveballs, throwing 17 of them, compared to just 11 in his prior three starts. His strategy of incorporating more off-speed pitches paid off, as it allowed him to keep hitters off balance and closed the door on the Reds’ offense after Marte’s homer.

According to Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing, the team’s approach focused on minimizing reliance on the fastball early in the game. “We’d had a plan of kind of living away from the fastball as much as we had in the past couple of starts,” he explained. This strategy not only opened opportunities for Ohtani’s fastball later in the game but also demonstrated his versatility as a pitcher.

Ohtani’s early outings post-recovery saw him primarily use his four-seam fastball and sweeper, which accounted for 81% of his pitches against the Reds in a previous matchup on July 30. Now, with a broader pitch repertoire, he threw a mix that included splitters, sinkers, cutters, sliders, and his newly emphasized curveballs.

This victory marked a turning point for the Dodgers, who have now won four consecutive games and hold a two-game lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League West. The team is also beginning to see the return of key players Max Muncy and Tommy Edman, who are expected to bolster the squad further as the season progresses.

Ohtani expressed confidence in the team’s potential, stating, “Just looking at our roster, I really like where we’re at in terms of our starting pitchers and bullpen. I just want to make sure that I do my part as a starting pitcher to go deeper into games and help out the bullpen.” With a formidable rotation that includes the likes of Blake Snell and Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers appear to be trending upward as they push for a successful season.