It took exactly one pitch for Sho-Time to arrive in Cleveland.
Three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani received loud cheers from the sellout crowd Monday when he homered on the first pitch of the game for his MLB-best 19th blast of the season, sending the Los Angeles Dodgers on their way to a 7-2 win over the Guardians.
If there were any concerns about his physical condition after throwing 22 pitches in a simulated outing the previous day, the two-way superstar immediately quelled them.
“He came out of it feeling good,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “I probably don’t see him throwing again (pregame) Wednesday, but that’s more on Shohei. It’s looking more like the next day when we’re off.”
Ohtani’s next challenge is Tuesday night, when the defending World Series champions take on Guardians ace Tanner Bibee (4-4, 3.57 ERA). Right-hander Dustin May (2-4, 4.09 ERA) will pitch for Los Angeles.
The Dodgers’ star-studded lineup gave Cleveland starter Gavin Williams fits in the opener, forcing him to throw 109 pitches and walk six in 4 2/3 innings. Los Angeles matched its season high with eight walks, which included two apiece by Ohtani, Will Smith and Michael Conforto.
“It’s good to get a 1-0 lead on Cleveland and head into tomorrow with a little momentum,” Smith said.
“It’s definitely tough because they foul off good pitches,” said Williams, who needed 41 pitches to retire two batters in the fifth. “Sometimes, you have to be a little bit perfect to get by them because they don’t miss much. I will say that, but I had trouble staying in the zone as well.”
Ohtani’s 19 homers through 54 games are tied for the second-most in Dodgers history, one fewer than Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges in 1951. He also leads the majors with five leadoff shots this year and has done so in consecutive games for the second time in his career.
Bibee’s lone appearance against the Dodgers came in 2024, when he gave up two runs in five innings and took the loss on the road. The right-hander has a sparkling 1.46 ERA in four home starts this season.
Head to head, Ohtani is 2-for-6 with a solo homer against Bibee.
May has lost three of his last four starts, but he earned the win against the Arizona Diamondbacks in his most recent outing on May 21 while allowing one run in six innings. He will pitch against Cleveland for the first time in his career.
Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez is riding a career-high hitting streak of 19 games. The six-time All-Star went 2-for-4 with two doubles Monday against Los Angeles and boasts a .387 average, four homers and 11 RBIs during his ongoing run.
“He’s unbelievable,” Williams said of Ramirez.
Added Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt: “Jose is one of the best hitters on the planet.”
The economic impact of the Dodgers’ visit was visible Monday with a capacity crowd that was treated to series-specific advertising in Japanese inside the ballpark. The sellout was Cleveland’s third of 2025 and the remaining two games have limited tickets left.
–Field Level Media
