Shohei Ohtani turned in another gem on the mound against the Colorado Rockies last week, tossing six innings with seven strikeouts and just one run allowed.
It was more of what has become expected whenever he takes the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season. However, that particular start was more laborious than others for the right-hander. Ohtani’s command wasn’t particularly sharp, with only 57% of his pitches thrown for strikes and four walks issued.
As for what allows Ohtani to have positive games on the mound even when he’s not at his best, manager Dave Roberts credits the 31-year-old’s pure stuff and competitiveness to prevent runs from scoring.
“I think certainly the velocity helps. Even when he gets in bad counts, he can get (Hunter) Goodman to fly out twice. The sweeper, he’s still got enough stuff to make hitters uncomfortable. Can use the curveball to slow them down, can use the sweeper to go right to left,” Roberts said.
“And again, once he gets guys in scoring position, eh really bears down and the command seems to come to life. This guy is just a crazy good competitor.”
Despite delivering six no-hit innings, the walks and issues with command weren’t up to the standard Ohtani holds himself to. In that regard, he reminds Roberts a lot of Clayton Kershaw.
That commitment to excellence is not where the similarities end in Roberts’ eyes either.
“I wouldn’t say he’s as animated as Clayton was, but he’s intense in his way and a certain expectation of excellence. Clayton certainly had that and Shohei has that,” he began.
“Preparedness, and when it gets hot, stressful, scoring position, they make pitches. That’s a similarity. Obviously it’s hard to compare anyone to Clayton, given how long he did it for.”
Ohtani’s 0.82 ERA this season is the lowest in Dodgers franchise history through a pitcher’s first nine starts. The record previously belonged to Fernando Valenzuela, who carried a 0.91 ERA during the 1981 season.
Shohei Ohtani showing improvement at the plate
While the overall numbers are still not what has come to be expected for the two-way superstar on offense this season, he has been putting together more positive results at the plate as well. That’s coincided with the Dodgers holding Ohtani out of their lineup in back-to-back games.
Roberts believes that small break has proven beneficial, but Ohtani downplayed the impact of receiving rest.
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