Shohei Ohtani

Fantasy News

• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Staying in leadoff spot

  Rotowire Feb 18, 2026

  Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Wednesday that Ohtani will remain the team's leadoff hitter during the 2026 season, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports. For the first time since his final season with the Angels in 2023, Ohtani is preparing for a full season of pitching, but that won't affect the Dodgers' approach with him as their everyday designated hitter. After slugging a career-high 55 home runs while making 148 of his 158 starts out of the leadoff spot during the 2025 regular season, the four-time MVP will continue to set the table for Los Angeles once again in 2026. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Ohtani is expected to start at DH in the Dodgers' first two Cactus League games this weekend to get some competitive at-bats under his belt before he joins Team Japan in advance of the World Baseball Classic. Roberts has already said that Ohtani won't pitch for Japan in the WBC, but the two-way phenom will likely continue to build up through bullpen and live batting practice sessions throughout the spring to ensure that he'll be part of the Dodgers' Opening Day rotation.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Prepping for full season in two-way role

  Rotowire Jan 31, 2026

  Ohtani indicated Saturday that he'll be ready to take on a full two-way role at the outset of the 2026 regular season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. Ohtani began last year continuing to rehab from September 2023 Tommy John surgery and didn't pitch in a major-league game until mid-June. He was managed carefully upon his return to the mound, as he finished the regular season with a modest 47 innings over 14 starts. The superstar was very effective as a hurler, though, posting a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 62:9 K:BB during those appearances. The leash was loosened in the postseason, as Ohtani completed six frames in each of his first three playoff outings and then started Game 7 of the World Series on three days of rest. After getting through the summer and fall with no arm issues, Ohtani is now set to slot into the Dodgers' rotation from the outset of the 2026 campaign. There will likely still be some careful management of Ohtani as a pitcher -- manager Dave Roberts stated Saturday that the two-way star won't pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic, and he's expected to continue to be part of a six-man rotation with Los Angeles -- but Roberts also said that Ohtani will be treated as a normal pitcher on days when he takes the mound.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Wins fourth MVP

  Rotowire Nov 13, 2025

  Ohtani was named the National League Most Valuable Player on Thursday. Ohtani won the award unanimously for the third straight season and for the fourth time overall, with two wins in both the NL and AL. Though he wasn't as active on the basepaths with 20 stolen bases after stealing 59 bags in 2024, Ohtani still hit an exceptional 55 home runs with a 1.014 OPS across 725 plate appearances. He also returned to the mound after recovering from Tommy John surgery and recorded a 2.87 ERA across 47 innings.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Goes 2.1 frames in Game 7 of WS

  Rotowire Nov 2, 2025

  Ohtani didn't factor into the decision against the Blue Jays in Game 7 of the World Series on Saturday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 2.1 innings. He also went 2-for-5 with a walk as a batter. Ohtani struggled throughout his time on the mound, but he managed to get through two scoreless innings despite allowing four baserunners over that span. He wasn't able to escape in the third, however, as Bo Bichette tagged him for a three-run homer in that frame, leading to his exit. Ohtani did manage to reach base three times as a hitter, and over the seven-game series he batted .333 with three home runs, three doubles, five RBI, six runs and nine walks. As a pitcher, he was less effective, yielding seven earned runs while posting a 9:3 K:BB across 8.1 frames.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Tapped for Game 7 start

  Rotowire Nov 1, 2025

  Ohtani will start Game 7 of the World Series against the Blue Jays on Saturday. Ohtani will be pitching on short rest after making it through six innings during a loss in Game 4 on Tuesday. The 31-year-old owns a 3.50 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 25 strikeouts through 18 innings so far in the postseason and will be opposed by Max Scherzer in Saturday's winner-take-all contest.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Saddled with Game 4 loss

  Rotowire Oct 29, 2025

  Ohtani took the loss in Game 4 of the World Series against the Blue Jays on Tuesday after allowing four earned runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six batters over six-plus innings. He also went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts as a batter. After getting through the first two innings without giving up a run, Ohtani allowed a single to Nathan Lukes in the third before serving up a home run to Vladimir Guerrero in the ensuing at-bat. The two-way superstar kept the game close for the next several innings but was pulled after allowing the first two men he faced in the seventh to reach base -- both of whom eventually came around to score. Ohtani is likely now done making starts on the mound for the Dodgers this postseason, but he will likely be available out of the bullpen for the remainder of the series and also remains one of the most dynamic bats in Los Angeles' lineup.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Blasts two home runs in Game 3 win

  Rotowire Oct 28, 2025

  Ohtani went 4-for-4 with two solo home runs, two doubles, five walks, three RBI and three runs scored in Monday's 6-5 win in 18 innings in Game 3 of the World Series against the Blue Jays. Ohtani smoked a ground-rule double in his first at-bat of the game and only continued to wreak havoc from there on out. He hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third, followed by an RBI double in the fifth and a game-tying solo homer in the seventh. His only blemish took place when he got thrown out attempting to steal second base in the bottom of the ninth as the potential winning run, popping off the bag after initially sliding in safe. The Blue Jays had evidently seen enough, as the slugger was then walked in his final five at-bats of the matchup, making him the first player in MLB postseason history to reach base nine times in the same game. Ohtani is now 6-for-12 with three home runs, five RBI, six walks and five runs scored through the first three games of the World Series and is slated to toe the rubber for Game 4 on Tuesday.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Historic performance secures sweep

  Rotowire Oct 18, 2025

  Ohtani picked up the win against the Brewers on Friday in Game 4 of the NLCS, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out 10 batters across six-plus shutout innings. He also went 3-for-3 with three home runs and a walk as a batter. In what could be the greatest single-game performance in MLB postseason history, Ohtani's dominance as both a pitcher and hitter was on full display. He struck out the side in the top of the first before giving himself a 1-0 lead with a 446-foot leadoff home run off Jose Quintana in the bottom of the frame. The two-way star then slugged a 469-foot shot off Chad Patrick in the fourth and completed the hat trick with a seventh-inning blast against Trevor Megill that traveled a mere 427 feet. After rattling off four consecutive victories over the Brewers, Ohtani and the Dodgers will now have a full week to rest up before facing either the Blue Jays or Mariners in what will be Los Angeles' second consecutive World Series appearance.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Strikes out nine in Game 1 win

  Rotowire Oct 4, 2025

  Ohtani picked up the win against the Phillies on Saturday, allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk while striking out nine batters across six innings. Making his first career postseason start, Ohtani set the Phillies down in order in the bottom of the first inning before getting into trouble in the second. Ohtani walked Alec Bohm and gave up a single to Brandon Marsh before J.T. Realmuto belted a two-run triple. Harrison Bader added a sacrifice fly two batters later, and that was the extent of the damage. At the plate, Ohtani went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts and one walk. Ohtani would likely be available to make his next start Thursday in Game 4 if the series gets to that point, though Tyler Glasnow was previously named as a starter for the series. Glasnow appeared out of the bullpen Saturday, throwing 1.2 scoreless innings.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Powers Dodgers with two homers

  Rotowire Oct 1, 2025

  Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Reds in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. He opened the home half of the first inning with an absolute laser, turning a triple-digit fastball from Hunter Greene around at 117.7 mph off the bat. Ohtani later touched up reliever Connor Phillips for a long ball measured at 454 feet, the longest home run recorded by Statcast in Dodgers postseason history, per Sonja Chen of MLB.com. The two-way phenom could make a start on the mound in Game 3 against Cincinnati, if necessary, or in Game 1 of the NLDS against Philadelphia.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Lined up for Game 3 start on mound

  Rotowire Sep 29, 2025

  Ohtani will be the Dodgers' starting pitcher for Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series versus the Reds, if necessary, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Blake Snell will get the ball in Game 1, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto will start Game 2. If there is a Game 3, that start will go to Ohtani. The two-way superstar peaked on the mound at the right time, finishing with a 0.46 ERA and 27:4 K:BB over 19.2 innings covering his last four regular-season starts.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Breaks own Dodgers HR record

  Rotowire Sep 28, 2025

  Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo homer, a double and an additional run scored in Sunday's 6-1 victory over the Mariners. The Japanese superstar broke his own Dodgers single-season homer mark with his 55th long ball. Ohtani cracked a 412-foot solo shot off Seattle southpaw Gabe Speier in the seventh to make history. The 31-year-old wraps another incredible regular season at the plate, slashing .282/.392/.623 with 20 steals, 146 runs scored and 102 RBI over 726 plate appearances.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Rare day off Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 27, 2025

  Ohtani isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Mariners. Ohtani went 0-for-3 during Friday's victory but still managed to extend his on-base streak to 30 games by drawing a walk. The Dodgers will give him an extra day to rest Saturday in preparation for the postseason, which will allow Tommy Edman to work as the DH while Miguel Rojas starts at second base.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Swipes bag No. 20

  Rotowire Sep 27, 2025

  Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 3-2 win over the Mariners. The reigning NL NVP hasn't been able to match his historic 50-50 campaign from 2024, but Ohtani swiped his 20th bag of the year Friday, the third straight season he's reached that mark. His power numbers haven't regressed as he looks to defend his MVP crown -- he's headed for his third straight campaign with an OPS over 1.000, slashing .279/.390/.616 through 720 plate appearances with 54 homers and 101 RBI, including nine long balls in 23 September contests.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Sees full workload in no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2025

  Ohtani allowed five hits and struck out eight without walking a batter over six scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. He also went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored as a batter in the Dodgers' 5-4 loss. Ohtani crossed the 90-pitch mark for the first time this season, throwing 63 of 91 pitches for strikes in another stellar start. He's kept runs off the board throughout September, allowing just eight hits with an 18:2 K:BB through 14.2 innings across his three starts this month. Ohtani is expected to be in the Dodgers' playoff rotation, so it's a big positive to see him looking both in form and fully stretched out in his final tuneup before the postseason. He's posted a 2.87 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 62:9 K:BB through 47 innings across 14 appearances this season.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Pegged for rotation in postseason

  Rotowire Sep 23, 2025

  Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that Ohtani will be used as a starting pitcher in the playoffs, in addition to his designated-hitter duties, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. The Dodgers discussed the possibility of using Ohtani as a reliever in the postseason and have even mulled deploying him some in the outfield so he could stay in the game as a hitter after he was done pitching in relief. However, they've ultimately decided Ohtani will be a member of their playoff rotation. Ohtani could even start Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, as he'll be tentatively lined up for it after making his final regular-season start Tuesday in Arizona. The two-way superstar holds a 3.29 ERA and 54:9 K:BB over 41 innings covering 13 starts this season and went five hitless frames versus the Phillies in his last outing.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Hot stretch continues

  Rotowire Sep 21, 2025

  Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs scored in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Giants. Ohtani's power is surging again, just as the Dodgers look to secure the NL West title. He's homered four times over his last five games and is up to 53 long balls on the year. The two-way superstar has added a .283/.395/.623 slash line, 99 RBI, 141 runs scored, 19 stolen bases, 24 doubles and eight triples over 152 contests. Ohtani is one homer away from matching his career high from last year, and he's one RBI away from securing his third season of at least 100.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Blasts go-ahead homer

  Rotowire Sep 20, 2025

  Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-3 win over the Giants. Ohtani has turned up the power again with four homers during his seven-game hitting streak. His blast Friday gave the Dodgers their first lead of the contest. He's up to 52 long balls this year, one behind Kyle Schwarber for the National League lead. Ohtani is batting .283 with a 1.013 OPS, 98 RBI, 139 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 151 contests, though he's been even better by hitting .338 and slugging .769 over 17 games in September.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Belts 51st homer

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2025

  Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a 5-0 victory over the Phillies on Wednesday. Ohtani provided an insurance run for Los Angeles with his solo blast to center field in the eighth inning. The long ball was the two-way star's second in as many days and 51st overall this season. That's third most in the majors behind Cal Raleigh (56) and Kyle Schwarber (53). Ohtani has now reached base safely in 22 straight contests and is slashing .289/.422/.602 with seven home runs, 12 RBI, 17 runs, 19 walks and two stolen bases during that span.

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• Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Playing outfield being discussed

  Rotowire Sep 17, 2025

  Ohtani has had discussions with the Dodgers about playing the outfield so that he could be used as a reliever, Michael J. Duarte of NBC LA reports. If Ohtani were to start at designated hitter and then pitch in relief, once he was taken out of the game as a reliever, he would also have to be removed as a DH. Having Ohtani play some in the outfield would be a way for the Dodgers to get around that. It's not clear what the likelihood of Ohtani playing the outfield is, nor is it known whether the team would consider doing it down the stretch of the regular season or only for the playoffs. Ohtani has never started a game in the outfield in the majors, though he did appear in seven contests in the outfield with the Angels in 2021.

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