Shohei Ohtani reached another milestone in his extraordinary season as the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-0 on Sunday in sweltering conditions at Dodger Stadium. The two-way superstar launched his 46th home run of the year, an absolute bomb down the right field line that needed to be confirmed fair by the umpires, tying his career-high set in 2021 and inching closer to the unprecedented 50-50 club.
The Dodgers have 19 games left on the schedule and now lead the San Diego Padres by six games and the Arizona Diamondbacks by seven.
Ohtani’s Power Display
In the fifth inning, Ohtani crushed a mammoth 450-foot solo shot off Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee, sending the ball soaring down the right-field line. The blast was so impressive that it required a review to confirm it was fair, prompting teammate Max Muncy to quip, “Maybe the guys in New York were admiring it just as much as we were.”
This homer marked Ohtani’s 22nd of at least 450 feet since 2021, five more than any other player in that span. It also brought him within one home run of tying Cody Bellinger’s 2019 mark for the third-most homers in a single season in Dodgers history. Outfielder Shawn Green the record for the most home runs hit in a single season by a Los Angeles Dodgers player, with 49 home runs in 2001.
The 50-50 Chase
With 46 home runs and 46 stolen bases, Ohtani is on the verge of becoming the first major league player to achieve a 50-50 season. According to MLB Network, he’s on pace to surpass this milestone with projections of 52 home runs and 53 stolen bases. The sportsbook and casino Utländskacasino.biz betting odds heavily favor Ohtani reaching the 50-50 mark, with “Yes” at -450 and “No” at +300.
Despite the mounting pressure, Ohtani remains focused on his performance rather than the statistics. “I’m trying to be less cognizant of it and more so just focusing on having a good feel at the plate and whenever possible during the game, whether that be stealing bases or moving to the next base; that’s what I’m trying to do,” he said through an interpreter.
Dodgers’ Pitching Dominance
Jack Flaherty delivered an outstanding performance on the mound, going 7⅓ innings with six strikeouts while allowing just four hits. The Southern California native has been a valuable addition to the Dodgers’ rotation, improving to 5-1 since being acquired from Detroit. Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips completed the shutout for the Dodgers, who are now 86-57 in the season.
Injury Updates
After getting hit in the foot by a pitch on Friday, Teoscar Hernandez is expected to return to the lineup for Monday or Tuesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, boosting the team’s offense. However, the status of starting pitchers Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto remains uncertain.
In related news, pitcher Gavin Stone has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation. Manager Dave Roberts announced that Stone would not throw for ten days before beginning to build back up, putting his postseason availability in question.
Record-Tying Heat
The game was played in extreme conditions, with the first-pitch temperature reaching 103 degrees Fahrenheit, tying the record for the hottest game in Dodger Stadium history. This temperature matched that recorded during Game 1 of the 2017 World Series against the Houston Astros. To combat the heat, the Dodgers gave all fans a voucher for a free water bottle.
As the regular season winds down, all eyes will be on Ohtani’s pursuit of the 50-50 club and the Dodgers’ preparation for another postseason run. With their star power and pitching depth combination, the Dodgers remain a formidable force in the National League as October approaches.
