Shohei Ohtani recently broke a rare four-game slump during the Los Angeles Dodgers’ series against the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. The drought marked the first time in over three months that Ohtani went four consecutive games without a home run or stolen base. He snapped the streak on Tuesday with a third-inning homer in an 11-9 loss to the Marlins.
Ohtani now boasts 48 homers and 48 steals with 11 games left in the season. Despite being on the cusp of the unprecedented 50/50 milestone, he insists he’s not feeling pressured. “No pressure,” he said through an interpreter. “Just trying to maintain quality at-bats regardless of the situation.”
Currently trailing Aaron Judge (53) in home runs and Elly De La Cruz (64) in steals, Ohtani’s impressive .287/.372/.611 stats have him in the running to become the first full-time designated hitter to win an MVP. However, his batting average and on-base percentage have dipped since August.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts observed that the 50/50 milestone might be affecting Ohtani’s approach, noticing more pulled pitches and predetermined swings. Roberts also hinted at the slim possibility of Ohtani pitching in the postseason, noting that the decision will be made after discussions upon the team’s return to L.A.
When asked about the physical challenge of pitching post-surgery, Ohtani gave a wry smile and said, “I am not sure.”
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