Shohei Ohtani Struggles in Loss, Sees ERA Rise but Remains in Cy Young Race

Shohei Ohtani left the mound at PNC Park on Wednesday night with blood on his pant leg and a look of frustration that spoke volumes. It was a rare moment for the four-time MVP, who was pulled mid-inning for the first time this season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts walked slowly to the mound to take the ball from Ohtani, a sight that hadn’t been seen since Bo Bichette’s memorable home run in World Series Game 7. Ohtani handed over the baseball, thanked the home plate umpire, and prepared to switch roles as he still had hitting duties to fulfill.

On a sweltering evening in Pennsylvania, Ohtani was gunning for his first career Cy Young award. He tossed 102 pitches across 6 2/3 innings, striking a balance between pitching and hitting as he managed to hit a home run late in the game, although one of his potential hits was robbed by a spectacular catch. It was a night of mixed results as Ohtani made his first start with catcher Dalton Rushing, which led to missed opportunities for ABS challenges. In a stunning turn of events, the Dodgers squandered a five-run lead, ultimately losing to the Pirates 9-8.

Statistically, this outing marked Ohtani’s worst pitching performance of the season, with 3 earned runs, 6 hits, and 3 walks. His night ended abruptly after a two-out, two-run double from Pirates second baseman Brandon Lowe in the seventh inning. This was only the fourth time this season a hitter swung at a 3-0 pitch with a five-run deficit. Consequently, Ohtani’s ERA rose from 0.74 to a still-impressive 1.06.

“Going into that inning, the pitch count was pretty, relatively low,” Ohtani remarked through interpreter Will Ireton. “So I don’t think [fatigue played a factor.] … It was just a mis-execution on that 3-0 pitch.”

Despite the disappointing outcome, Ohtani demonstrated flashes of his typical brilliance, consistently hitting triple digits on the radar gun against a feisty Pirates lineup. He acknowledged that he threw fewer splitters than intended, likely due to a nagging blister on his right middle finger. Until the seventh inning, the only blemish on his record was a solo home run from rookie Tyler Callihan, a jaw-dropping shot that cleared the stadium. Ohtani remained optimistic, downplaying any concerns about his performance related to the blister. “No issues with the blister,” he insisted. “I don’t think it’s been affecting my performance.”

As Ohtani continues to pursue the Cy Young award, the stakes have never been higher. The Dodgers are utilizing a six-man rotation, which means Ohtani is likely to finish the season with fewer innings pitched compared to his competition. Pitchers such as Cristopher Sánchez, Paul Skenes, Chris Sale, and Jacob Misiorowski are all expected to approach or exceed the 200-inning mark while Ohtani may only reach around 150 innings with approximately 25 starts this season.

This disparity is not insurmountable; past winners have triumphed with fewer innings. Corbin Burnes won in 2021 despite pitching 46 1/3 innings less than runner-up Zack Wheeler. Nevertheless, Ohtani’s chances hinge on every start and every earned run as he aims to secure the only major trophy that has eluded him thus far.

“He wants a Cy Young,” Rushing mentioned earlier this season as he stepped into his new role behind the plate. Rushing, who has been thrust into regular duty following an injury to Will Smith, caught Ohtani for the first time on Wednesday. Ohtani recognized the adjustment period, stating, “I shook a few times more than usual, but I think that’s normal, given that I haven’t really worked with him this year.”

In that pivotal seventh inning, there were several borderline pitches that Rushing opted not to challenge, a decision Ohtani later admitted could have been more aggressive. Their cautious approach contributed to Ohtani’s early exit and the Dodgers’ unexpected loss. While this outing may have been a setback, it remains a minor hiccup in Ohtani’s remarkable season as he continues to chase Cy Young glory.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.