Shohei Ohtani Dealt Bitter Reality As MVP Voters Pressured Amid Kyle Schwarber’s Iconic Rise

Shohei Ohtani could once again find himself in the thick of an MVP debate, however, this time the script looks different. After Kyle Schwarber’s record-tying four-homer night against the Phillies, the MVP race in the NL has tightened considerably, forcing voters to weigh Ohtani’s two-way brilliance against Schwarber’s historic run production.

For Ohtani, the challenge is not unfamiliar. The star has already claimed three of the last four MVP awards in unanimous fashion. However, this season has not carried the same overwhelming dominance. Offensively, he is powerful but not at the 2023–24 level, when Ohtani belted 54 home runs and swiped 59 bases despite being sidelined as a pitcher. This season, Ohtani’s edge at the plate over Schwarber is slimmer: just 39 points in OPS, 17 in OBP, and 22 in slugging.

However, Kyle Schwarber leads the majors with 119 RBIs to Ohtani’s 85, a gap fueled partly by lineup spot—Ohtani has spent almost the entire season batting leadoff, while Schwarber has been anchored in RBI spots. Still, Schwarber’s power has vaulted the Phillies into first place, fueling chants of “MVP” at Citizens Bank Park. The star’s surge has made the race one of September’s most compelling storylines.

The debate is not limited to box scores. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic cautioned that voter fatigue should not play a role in such a decision. “Still, the two superstars should not be penalized for their past dominance. Nor should they be rewarded for it.” Rosenthal said, highlighting that the two stars have combined for five MVPs, four of them unanimous. However, fans have been quick to weigh in. “Without Schwarber this year, the Phillies are probably not in first place… His leadership skills are unmatched,” one fan argued in The Athletic’s comment section.

The vital concern remains whether Schwarber’s gaudy RBI total and power binge outweigh the Dodgers star’s all-around effect, containing Ohtani’s innings on the field since returning in June. Metrics like Win Probability Added, where Ohtani leads all of baseball, could shape voter decisions as they look for ways to separate the candidates. With almost a month left in the season, the MVP chase looks destined to hinge not on history and narrative, but on how Ohtani and Schwarber finish down the stretch.

While Ohtani’s MVP capability is still in question, what truly stood out was how he reinvented himself on the field.

Ohtani’s curvball adjustment signals a new path forward

In the first Dodgers win, Shohei Ohtani unveiled a weapon few thought to see in such heavy utilization: the curveball. Historically, the star had never thrown the pitch more than 8.4 percent of the time in a season, and as of this season, it accounted for just 2.5 percent of his offerings. However, against the Reds, Ohtani leaned on it for 26 percent of his pitches, throwing it 23 times out of 87. The outcome was dominance—four strikeouts on swings and misses, six called strikes, and only one weak ground ball put in play.

More telling than the volume was the adjustment itself. His curve averaged 3.7 mph faster than his 2025 mark, a clear sign that Ohtani and the Dodgers’ staff refined the pitch for a sharper and more aggressive look. By introducing this wrinkle into Ohtani’s repertoire, he has given hitters one more reason to hesitate at the plate, setting up his fastball and splitter more effectively. For the team that approaches to keep Ohtani on a five-inning leash until October, such a curveball evolution could be vital to making those shorter outings as effective as possible when the postseason begins.

Shohei Ohtani’s first Dodgers win was more than just a milestone—it was a glimpse into how the star can adapt and thrive despite limitations. From bobblehead mania proving Ohtani’s unmatched marketability to his curveball adjustments highlighting his on-field evolution, Ohtani continues to reshape what is possible for a two-way star. As October is coming quickly, Dodgers fans need to buckle up, because this is just the beginning of a postseason ride fueled by Ohtani’s brilliance.