Shohei Ohtani’s quest for Cy Young Award begins with 6 shutout innings as Dodgers beat Guardians

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani got started on his bid to win a Cy Young Award — just about the only major prize to elude him — with six shutout innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first outing on the mound this season.

At the plate, the two-way superstar went 1 for 3 with two walks and a strikeout Tuesday night in a rainy 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

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The Dodgers have been waiting to see a full-time, two-way version of Ohtani since he joined them on a $700 million, 10-year deal before the 2024 season. He didn’t pitch that year while recovering from a second major elbow surgery in September 2023 while with the Los Angeles Angels.

Last season, the team took a methodical approach to his return to the mound. Ohtani was 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts. His fastball averaged a career-high 98.4 mph.

“Last year, I felt good,” Ohtani said through a translator. “But this year I do feel a lot more loose and easy pitching overall. Looking back at today’s outing specifically, that wasn’t necessarily the case. So that’s something I want to work on. But compared to last season I felt more loose and easy.”

Ohtani was limited to two spring training starts for the Dodgers because he played — but didn’t pitch — for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

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Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts has noticed Ohtani is more critical of himself as a pitcher than a hitter.

“He’s never going to be satisfied,” Roberts said. “There’s always something that he can improve on or get better at and that’s what fuels him.”

Ohtani has thrown 22 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in the regular season, dating to Aug. 27, 2025, against Cincinnati — the longest shutout streak of his career. He bettered his previous high of 21 2/3 innings set in June 2022 with the Angels.

“If he’s able to do it the whole year, that’s just a huge boost to our pitching staff,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “I expect nothing short of almost a Cy Young out of him.”

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Almost?

“I think he’s got enough pressure already,” Muncy said, “but it…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/shohei-ohtani-quest-cy-young-065941235.html

Author : BETH HARRIS

Publish date : 2026-04-01 06:59:00

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