Shohei Ohtani Draws Praise From Dave Roberts After Reaching Rare Milestone Ahead of Next Start

Do you find Shohei Ohtani breaking a new milestone unusual anymore? Well, we think it’s another day at the office for Ohtani. And Tuesday night was no different. As he added another milestone to his ever-growing list, the Dodgers once again steamrolled past their opponent, marking their eighth win in their last ten games. Now, with momentum building and the team hitting its stride, this latest win over the White Sox wasn’t just another tick in the standings. It also came with a significant update from the Dodgers’ manager.

Dave Roberts not only showered his superstar with praise but also lifted the curtain on Ohtani’s much-anticipated return to the mound. Ah, the Dodgers winning on the ground, Ohtani breaking newer records, and a new update about his next pitching schedule! Anything better than this, folks?

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I don’t know if perspective kind of even lands with Shohei,” Roberts told the reporters in his post-game presser. He explained that just seeing Ohtani go through the daily routine of preparing for a game—the immense expectations he carries, pitching, staying healthy, and performing at such a high level—is difficult to fully comprehend. He admitted, “That’s hard to wrap my head around, to be quite honest. But he’s as good as anyone I’ve seen is kind of compartmentalizing expectation noise all while performing… So it just I just kind of stand back and just in amazement, actually.”

Well, Ohtani is doing Ohtani things again, and he is back with a few firsts this year. For starters, the Dodgers’ superstar just hit the 30-home run mark for the fifth year in a row. But what makes this even more special? No one else has even managed to do that more than three seasons in a row! A first for Ohtani.

Moreover, this also marks the third time Ohtani hit the 30-homer milestone before the All-Star break. For those unversed, he had 33 before the break in 2021 and 32 in 2023. And last year, he had 29 at the break and still smashed a career-high 54.

Oh, and get this: Ohtani is officially the fastest player in Dodgers history to reach 30 homers in a season, doing it in just 86 games! Hence, several firsts are being achieved by him, and like us, Roberts is also in awe. However, the skipper is more surprised by how Ohtani doesn’t let the outside noise and expectations affect his game.

So, when will Ohtani get back on the mound again? Well, Ohtani tossed 27 pitches over a season-high two scoreless innings last weekend in Kansas City. Now, reports say he’s set to return as the opener in the Dodgers’ upcoming series opener against the Astros. But there’s a catch! Ohtani has yet to become a full-time pitcher again. While the team would love nothing more than to have him back in the rotation, they’re being careful not to mess with his groove at the plate. Well, let’s face it, what he’s doing offensively is too valuable to risk.

Dodgers’ pitching also needs a Shohei Ohtani boost

Ah, this season, the Dodgers are a tale of two teams. One with a bat in hand, and the other on the mound. And what’s a better way to define the Dodgers! Offensively, they’ve been nothing short of dominant. The Dodgers lead all of MLB in team batting average (.262) and total runs scored (483). And why not?

The Dodgers have names like Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman in the batter’s box. However, it’s not the same when it comes to pitching. The Dodgers suddenly look less like a team eyeing a consecutive championship and more like a low-tier team vying for survival.

So, while the Dodgers are leading in the offensive numbers, they are struggling to keep it up on the pitching side. For instance, the Dodgers are ranked 21st in terms of ERA (4.18). Now, we are certain that you would not expect this ranking for a team like the Dodgers. Just when the team’s offense is having no dearth of big names, the pitching lineup is gasping for a better outcome.

The team that was projected to have a fixed postseason spot due to their top-level starting rotation is now devastated by injuries. Take Roki Sasaki and Blake Snell, for example. Both have yet to return to action, and Tyler Glasnow is preparing to come back. Hence, once again, the focus shifts to Ohtani to ramp up the pitching department as well.

Perhaps, it’s time for the Dodgers front office to pay attention. And this is coming just when the trade deadline is around the corner. It is highly likely that we will see a few new names added to the Dodgers’ roster, at least for the pitching department. However, until the external help arrives, it’s the same old story for the Dodgers. It will be their offense lineup that is expected to go the extra mile to make up for the vulnerable pitching.