It has become one of the most undeniable truths in baseball today. That Shohei Ohtani isn’t just a generational talent; he’s a fan magnet of the highest order. Wherever he plays, the crowds follow. From the global stage of the Tokyo Series to marquee matchups like Dodgers-Yankees or Dodgers-Padres, the formula has been the same. If Ohtani is in the lineup, expect ticket prices to soar, stands to be overflowing, and the buzz around the ballpark to hit fever pitch.

Now, add another spectacle to that growing list: the Dodgers-Angels series. This wasn’t just any matchup—it was Ohtani returning to face his former team, a narrative already charged with emotion and intrigue. And standing opposite him was Mike Trout. The Angels’ cornerstone and one of the greatest players of his era. He stepped into the spotlight as Ohtani’s rival instead of his teammate.

So, the stage was perfectly set for a city divided by baseball loyalties but united by the lure of star power. Fans poured in, the energy was electric, and anticipation reached levels rarely seen in a regular-season clash. And if the atmosphere in the stands wasn’t proof enough of Ohtani’s gravitational pull, the viewership numbers would leave no doubt. The records speak for themselves. And they might just leave you scratching your head at how far the Ohtani-Trout effect has stretched.

“The Angels-Dodgers game on the 13th between Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (31) and Angels outfielder Mike Trout (34), which was a rematch since the 2023 WBC finals, was broadcast on the American specialty television station MLB Network and drew a record number of viewers.” Nikkan Sports quoted Sports Illustrated.

Well, the Dodgers and Angels wrapped up their Freeway Series this week with a finale that turned into a huge draw for Major League Baseball. Reportedly, Wednesday night’s game pulled in 446,000 viewers on MLB Network for out-of-market fans—the highest total ever for a game the network has aired after 6:00 p.m. local time in the U.S.

The buzz was all about Shohei Ohtani making his highly anticipated return to Angel Stadium. This time, pitching against his former team. That set up a must-see showdown with his old teammate and baseball legend Mike Trout. It gave the fans another unforgettable moment between the two stars. To top it off, the Angels stunned everyone by sweeping the Dodgers in the three-game series, taking down one of the top teams in the league.

Remember the 2023 World Baseball Classic? Ohtani struck out his Angels teammate Trout in the ninth inning to seal Japan’s 3-2 win. Fast forward to this week, and fans got a bit of deja vu. Ohtani faced Trout twice and struck him out both times. The only twist? Unlike the WBC, this time Ohtani ended up on the losing side.

The Angels are still stuck with the Ohtani-Trout duel

Yes, Ohtani-Trout duel, be it from the same team or as an opponent, will draw money. And the Angels seem to be comfortable with that narrative.

Remember the old Tungsten Arm O’Doyle joke about the Angels? You’ve probably seen the name pop up on social media. The meme first took off in 2021 when MLB insider Matt created it to poke fun at how the Angels could have two of the greatest players in baseball — Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout. And still manage to lose far more often than they should.

Fast forward to now, and not much has changed. Ohtani and Trout are still delivering highlight after highlight. But the Angels as a team just can’t seem to turn that into wins. We saw it on Opening Day 2023, when Trout and Ohtani both had their moments, but the Angels still fell short. Then came 2024, when Ohtani jumped across town to the Dodgers. You’d think his departure might change the narrative, but in reality, it hasn’t. Trout is still carrying the load, and the team is still struggling to keep up.

Even with the excitement of sweeping the Dodgers in the latest Freeway Series, the Angels are sitting at 59-66. That puts them firmly in fourth place in the AL West and on track to miss the playoffs for the 11th straight season!

So, the Angels’ woes have become almost predictable, and that’s exactly why the Tungsten Arm O’Doyle meme refuses to die. But here’s the thing: as frustrating as the team’s struggles are, any matchup featuring Trout and Ohtani still has the power to capture the imagination of fans everywhere. And for Anaheim fans, that duel might be the brightest spot in an otherwise dim stretch of baseball.