Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani is continuing his build up back on the bump. Ohtani has made three pitching starts for the Dodgers, and is set to make his fourth appearance on the mound on his birthday.
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On Saturday, Ohtani will be the Dodgers’ starting pitcher against the Houston Astros on his 31st birthday. The right-hander is coming off his best start of the season, which was headlined by Ohtani throwing the fastest pitch of his MLB career — a 101.7 mph fastball.
Ohtani tossed two scoreless innings in a 27-pitch performance against the Kansas City Royals. It marked the first time the Dodgers two-way star had thrown more than an inning this season.
With each start, Ohtani has looked sharper. The right-hander made his pitching debut with the Dodgers on June 16 against the San Diego Padres. He was tasked with facing the top of the Padres lineup, which includes Fernando Tatis Jr., three-time batting champion Luis Arraez, and Manny Machado.
Ohtani showed some rust, allowing one run on three hits during his 28-pitch outing. Nevertheless, he has since settled into his norm as both a starting pitcher and designated hitter.
The Dodgers have been very cautious about Ohtani’s return to the mound, and manager Dave Roberts provided more insight into the two-way star’s full ramp up this season.
“I think we’re always gonna be cautious,” Roberts said. “So I don’t even know what that’s going to look like, to be ‘fully built-up.’ I don’t think anyone knows what that looks like. Because it’s not a normal starting pitcher. So to say six (innings) and 90 (pitches), I don’t even know if we’ll get to that point.”
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Photo Credit: Peter Aiken-Imagn Images
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