MIAMI — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ current collection on the Atlanta Braves marked the primary time in additional than three months that Shohei Ohtani went 4 consecutive video games with no house run or a stolen base. It was a rut he had not been in since June 6 to 9.
Ohtani lastly snapped that streak on Tuesday, hitting a third-inning house run in an 11-9 loss to the lowly Miami Marlins.
Ohtani, who has 48 homers and 48 steals with 11 video games remaining, mentioned he’s “only one little factor away” from feeling good with the mechanics of his swing once more. He additionally denied feeling any strain to change into the primary participant in baseball historical past to achieve the 50/50 mark earlier than the common season wraps.
“No strain,” Ohtani mentioned by an interpreter. “Simply attempting to keep up high quality at-bats whatever the state of affairs. It is one thing I have been attempting to do over the course of your complete season.”
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Ohtani trails solely Aaron Decide (53) for the foremost league lead in homers and solely Elly De La Cruz (64) for the foremost league lead in steals whereas hitting .287/.372/.611 — numbers that seemingly have him on tempo to change into the primary full-time designated hitter to win an MVP, particularly contemplating New York Mets star Francisco Lindor’s current again damage. Ohtani’s energy has been on show all year long, however his batting common (.236) and on-base share (.301) have fallen off for the reason that begin of August.
Recently, Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts mentioned he has seen that the 50/50 milestone is “entrance of thoughts” for Ohtani, even when it is not essentially offering strain. Roberts has noticed Ohtani pulling pitches extra often relatively than spraying them into the gaps, which is triggering extra predetermined swings versus seeing pitches deeper into the strike zone.
“And I do really feel that is considerably pure,” Roberts mentioned. “I simply suppose he desires to get it over with — however with the truth that he is nonetheless attempting to compete and assist us win baseball video games.”
Roberts lately opened the door to Ohtani doubtlessly pitching within the postseason, saying the possibilities are “very slim” however “not zero.”
Ohtani has been intermittently throwing bullpen classes and will face hitters quickly. He and the Dodgers’ pitching coaches haven’t talked about him contributing off the mound within the playoffs, a circumstance that may not even be attainable till the World Sequence. However Ohtani mentioned they’re going to all meet when the crew returns to L.A. this weekend to debate the remainder of his rehab schedule.
Requested if he believes he might bodily do it, given the toll of getting back from main elbow surgical procedure in a high-pressure surroundings, Ohtani gave a wry smile.
“I’m not certain,” he mentioned.