MLB’s official website released its starting pitcher power rankings on the 6th, with Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani climbing from seventh place to claim the top spot. He was described as being “in the best shape he’s ever been on the mound.”
Through six starts this season, Ohtani boasts a league-best 0.97 ERA across both leagues. One key reason for his dominance on the mound is his “pitching-focused” role, which allows him to fully concentrate on his craft.
When pitching exclusively, Ohtani threw a career-high 104 pitches on April 28 with four days’ rest, and on May 5, he completed seven innings for the first time in three years, showing increased workload in both pitch count and innings. Notably, on April 15, during his first start as a dedicated pitcher in five years, he leaned on a 100.4 mph four-seam fastball to record double-digit strikeouts for the first time in three years. On May 5, he hit a season-best 101 mph, demonstrating a clear velocity increase over his “real two-way” appearances, resulting in more strikeouts.
Manager Dave Roberts’ primary reason for using Ohtani as a dedicated pitcher is to reduce physical strain and maintain his health. Additionally, the team’s deep roster, both on the mound and in the field, allows Roberts to utilize bench players more effectively, particularly catcher Dalton Rushing. In the first eight games of the season, Rushing hit .444 with seven home runs, making him too valuable to keep on the bench as Will Smith’s backup. When Ohtani pitches exclusively, Rushing has started as the designated hitter in all three such games.
Looking ahead, as key players like shortstop Mookie Betts return from injury, the team’s depth will only increase, making it harder for bench players to get playing time. Roberts’ strategy is to have Ohtani focus on pitching during his starts while giving reserves more game experience—a two-birds-with-one-stone approach unique to the Dodgers.
On the flip side, when Ohtani focuses solely on pitching, the team’s offensive production takes a hit. The Dodgers average just 1.8 runs per game in his starts, and have lost seven of their last nine games when he takes the mound. This lack of run support is often the fate of an ace—in MLB, it’s said that when an ace pitches, the game tempo improves, the opposing pitcher also throws well, leading to a pitchers’ duel and less support from one’s own offense. A prime example is Jacob deGrom, who won back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019 but managed only 10 wins in 2018 despite a league-best 1.70 ERA due to poor run support.
As fans, we want to see Ohtani’s real two-way play, but we also hope to witness his explosive pitching as a dedicated starter, aiming for the Cy Young Award. Going forward, Roberts will continue to seek the best approach for Ohtani to deliver peak performance while helping the team win.