LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 01: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers at bat against the Cleveland Guardians at Dodger Stadium on April 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Wednesday night at Rogers Centre after the bullpen surrendered three unanswered runs in the seventh and eighth innings. It was the first road defeat of the season for a Dodgers team that had been perfect away from home through the opening two weeks.
Shohei Ohtani did his part. He threw six innings and allowed just one unearned run on four hits with two strikeouts and a walk. His ERA remains at 0.00 through two starts.
His scoreless innings streak ended at 25⅓, but not before he set a new record for the longest such streak by a Japanese-born pitcher in Major League history, surpassing Yu Darvish and Hisashi Iwakuma, who had jointly held the record at 25 innings.
Before taking the mound, Ohtani drew a leadoff walk in his first plate appearance, pushing his on-base streak to 43 games and pulling even with Ichiro Suzuki for the longest such run by a Japanese-born player in MLB history. After the game, his comments shifted the conversation away from the milestones.
Ohtani Gets Honest About His Body
Ohtani acknowledged that the road trip wore on him physically.
“It didn’t feel that great, you know it’s the end of a long road trip,” Ohtani said through his translator. “So in that sense, I’m just wanting to make sure that I’m recovering and feeling better.”
He explained that both his form and physical condition were affected by the fatigue of consecutive road games. He also noted that his batting is progressing but that slow starts at the plate have been typical for him at the beginning of every season.
GettyShohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo by Ronaldo Bolaños/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Roberts Defends His Star
The Blue Jays took issue with the amount of time Ohtani takes between innings, a complaint that has followed him in his role as a two-way player. Dave Roberts was asked about it afterward and did not hesitate.
“If you’re on the other side, you’re trying to rush him as much as possible and treat him like any other pitcher. But the truth is, he’s different.” Roberts said.
Roberts expanded on the reality of managing a player who hits leadoff and then walks to the mound. Opposing teams want to rush him and treat him like any other pitcher.
Roberts made it clear that approach does not apply. Ohtani operates on a different schedule because no one else in the sport is doing what he does.
GettyDave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Final Word for the Dodgers
The loss stings because it was there for the taking. Ohtani gave them six innings. The offense put runners on in the ninth. But it slipped away for LA.
The bigger picture still looks right. Ohtani is healthy, his arm fatigue is a product of workload rather than injury, and the milestones keep stacking up for him.
The Dodgers return home Friday to open a series against the Rangers. Tyler Glasnow takes the mound.
Keith Watkins Keith Watkins is a sports journalist covering the NBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Lakers. He previously wrote for FanSided, NBA Analysis Network, and Last Word On Sports. Keith is based in Bangkok, Thailand. More about Keith Watkins
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