Shohei Ohtani’s historic two-way talent has always been defined by its redundancy; if one half of his game falters, the other is usually there to provide a superstar-level safety net. On Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium, the Los Angeles Dodgers leaned heavily into that reality. Amid a persistent and uncharacteristic slump at the plate, Ohtani took the mound and reminded the baseball world that he remains perhaps the most dominant pitcher in the sport, leading the Dodgers to a much-needed 4-0 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The win was significant for more than just Ohtani’s personal stat line. Entering the contest, the Dodgers had been reeling, mired in a season-high four-game losing streak. Their high-powered offense, which looked unstoppable in April, had gone cold, and the team had dropped four of its first five meetings against their rivals from the Bay. With the bats struggling to find any rhythm, the pressure fell squarely on Ohtani’s right arm—and he delivered.
Ohtani (3-2) was spectacular from the first pitch, tossing seven shutout innings and allowing just four hits. It was his second consecutive start of seven innings, a milestone of durability as he continues to reclaim his peak form following surgery. He struck out eight batters and walked only two, effectively silencing a Giants lineup that had won three straight games.
Perhaps the most striking detail of Ohtani’s night was his footwear. The right-hander took the mound wearing cleats that featured a picture of his dog, Decoy, on the tongue. Whether it was the good-luck charm or simply his elite arsenal, Ohtani’s command was sharp. He lowered his season ERA to a staggering 0.82, further solidifying his case as a Cy Young contender even as he battles through offensive woes.
The seventh inning provided the only real moment of drama. After giving up back-to-back singles to Willy Adames and Matt Chapman with one out, Ohtani found himself in his first true jam of the night. However, he was bailed out by a spectacular defensive play from center fielder Andy Pages. Drew Gilbert launched a deep fly ball to center that Pages tracked down on the warning track. Adames, thinking the ball might fall, had rounded third and was unable to retreat to second base in time, resulting in a crucial, inning-ending double play.
While Ohtani’s pitching was the headline, his absence from the batter’s box was equally notable. For the fourth time this season, the Dodgers opted to have Ohtani “pitch only,” resting him from his designated hitter duties. Manager Dave Roberts has been open about the team’s desire to give Ohtani a “mental and physical reset” at the plate. Despite hitting a home run on Tuesday—his first since late April—Ohtani had been struggling with a batting average that had dipped significantly during the team’s recent 2-8 stretch.
The “pitch-only” strategy seemed to pay dividends for the rest of the lineup, which showed signs of life against Giants lefty Robbie Ray. The Dodgers struck early in the third inning when Santiago Espinal, batting ninth in a righty-heavy lineup, launched his first home run as a Dodger. Moments later, Mookie Betts followed suit with a solo blast of his own, his first since returning from an oblique injury earlier in the week.
The Dodgers extended the lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning via an RBI single from Teoscar Hernández and a sacrifice fly by Alex Call. For a team that had scored more than four runs in only one of Ohtani’s previous six starts, the modest cushion felt like a windfall.
The victory brought the Dodgers to 25-18, keeping them competitive at the top of the division while halting their slide. For Ohtani, the performance served as a stark reminder of his unique value. Even when he is “struggling” by his own Herculean standards—posting a .136 average against the Giants this season—he can still be the single most impactful player on the field without ever picking up a bat.
The Dodgers have announced that Ohtani will also sit out Thursday’s series finale, giving him two full days of rest from hitting before the team heads out for their next series. If Wednesday night was any indication, a refreshed Ohtani—whether on the mound or at the plate—is exactly what Los Angeles needs to get their season back on track.
