Overview
- MLB named Ohtani the NL Pitcher of the Month on Monday after a 0.60 ERA over 30 innings with 34 strikeouts across five March–April starts.
- Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Monday that Ohtani will both pitch and hit Tuesday in Houston, ending a brief run of DH rest on some pitching days.
- Los Angeles had recently held him out of the DH spot on select starts to ease a 13-day stretch without team off days, a plan Roberts said was based on Ohtani’s workload.
- Ohtani has delivered five straight six-inning quality starts with nine walks, 34 strikeouts, and no homers allowed, leading NL pitchers with at least 30 innings in ERA and FIP.
- Roberts has said Ohtani expects to be in the Cy Young conversation, a notable marker in his return from a 2023 hybrid Tommy John–internal brace procedure.