On Thursday, Shohei Ohtani will rest.
After Ohtani pitched six scoreless innings and reached base five times in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 7-0 victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, manager Dave Roberts said he plans to give his superstar a day off in the finale of the four-game series on Thursday in Phoenix. Ohtani has played every game since a break on May 14.
The last break seemed to serve Ohtani well.
Ohtani has reached base in 19 straight games, during which he is hitting .438 with four homers, 17 RBIs and 11 multi-hit games. On the mound, he gave up two hits and a walk in his fourth straight win Wednesday and has allowed only one run in his past 24 innings.
“He’s the best player that’s ever walked this earth,” Dodgers catcher Will Smith said. “It’s fun to see him each and every day.”
Ohtani has the look of both an MVP and Cy Young candidate. He is a four-time MVP.
Ohtani is 6-2 with a 0.74 ERA in 10 starts, a figure that is one inning short of qualifying for the major league ERA lead.
His main Cy Young competitors two months into the season are Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez (7-2, 1.46) and Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski (6-2, 1.65). Sanchez’s streak of 50 2/3 scoreless innings ended Wednesday.
“He’s being selfish with baserunners,” Roberts said of Ohtani. “I think a lot of starting pitchers feel their way into the game and give up a couple (runs) early and then bear down.
“I’ve noticed with Shohei, every run is a premium. He’s literally trying to throw a shutout every single time he goes out there. He doesn’t let off the gas.”
Dodgers left-hander Justin Wrobleski (7-2, 2.87 ERA) is set to oppose right-hander Ryne Nelson (2-4, 4.82) in the finale of the four-game series. Arizona won the opener on Monday, with the Dodgers winning the past two.
The Diamondbacks shared unfortunate news when manager Torey Lovullo said Corbin Burnes sustained a teres major strain after throwing a live batting practice session as he ramped back up from elbow surgery last June.
The setback likely is to keep Burnes out until September, Lovullo said.
“It’s a blow, and it’s something we are going to have to deal with,” Lovullo said.
Wrobleski has joined Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto as a reliable starter in his third season. He had his best fastball of the season in his most recent outing, registering 97 mph in a 4-2 victory over the Phillies on Friday
It was a bump from his season average of 93.8, according to StatCast. That pitch averaged 96.0 mph last season.
“Just something clicked for me,” Wrobleski said. “I don’t really know what exactly it was. But I just felt better. Everything felt like it was in sync again and I felt back to normal, as opposed to how I’ve been, honestly, all year.”
Wrobleski was 5-0 with a 0.56 ERA in his first five decisions but had a couple of clunkers in May, when he gave up seven earned runs to Atlanta on May 10 and five to Milwaukee on May 22 — both losses.
The additional velocity “kind of felt like a little bit of a missing piece,” Wrobleski said. “Just kind of something that I know I have in me, and it would make me better.
“When you can reach back for 97, it makes life a lot easier,” Roberts said.
Wrobleski is 0-1 with a 14.21 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against Arizona.
Nelson allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits — including four homers — in 5 1/3 innings in a 5-1 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.
He yielded four runs on two hits — both homers — in 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision in a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers on March 27. He is 2-0 with a 2.72 ERA in eight career appearances (five starts) versus the Dodgers.
–Field Level Media
