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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani smiles towards the Cleveland Guardians dugout during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Tuesday, March 31, 2026. (AP Photo\/Kyusung Gong)<\/p>\n
LOS ANGELES \u2014 Shohei Ohtani got started on his bid to win a Cy Young Award \u2014 just about the only major prize to elude him \u2014 with six shutout innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first outing on the mound this season.<\/p>\n
At the plate, the two-way superstar went 1 for 3 with two walks and a strikeout Tuesday night in a rainy 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians.<\/p>\n
The Dodgers have been waiting to see a full-time, two-way version of Ohtani since he joined them on a $700 million, 10-year deal before the 2024 season. He didn\u2019t pitch that year while recovering from a second major elbow surgery in September 2023 while with the Los Angeles Angels.<\/p>\n
Last season, the team took a methodical approach to his return to the mound. Ohtani was 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts. His fastball averaged a career-high 98.4 mph.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I felt good,\u201d Ohtani said through a translator. \u201cBut this year I do feel a lot more loose and easy pitching overall. Looking back at today\u2019s outing specifically, that wasn\u2019t necessarily the case. So that\u2019s something I want to work on. But compared to last season I felt more loose and easy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohtani was limited to two spring training starts for the Dodgers because he played \u2014 but didn\u2019t pitch \u2014 for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.<\/p>\n
Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts has noticed Ohtani is more critical of himself as a pitcher than a hitter.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s never going to be satisfied,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cThere\u2019s always something that he can improve on or get better at and that\u2019s what fuels him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ohtani has thrown 22\u00aa consecutive scoreless innings in the regular season, dating to Aug. 27, 2025, against Cincinnati \u2014 the longest shutout streak of his career. He bettered his previous high of 21\u00aa innings set in June 2022 with the Angels.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf he\u2019s able to do it the whole year, that\u2019s just a huge boost to our pitching staff,\u201d third baseman Max Muncy said. \u201cI expect nothing short of almost a Cy Young out of him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Almost?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s got enough pressure already,\u201d Muncy said, \u201cbut it doesn\u2019t seem to faze him at all.\u201d<\/p>\n
Robo-ump ending<\/p>\n
BALTIMORE \u2014 Samuel Basallo made a little history when the Baltimore catcher became the first major leaguer to end a game with a successful challenge via the Automated Ball-Strike System.<\/p>\n
Albert Suarez was on the mound for the Orioles in the top of the ninth inning against Texas when his 1-2 pitch to Evan Carter with two outs was called a ball by plate umpire Manny Gonzalez. Basallo challenged, the replay showed most of the ball catching the upper outside corner of the strike zone, and Baltimore\u2019s 8-3 win was in the books.<\/p>\n
Alcantara sparkles<\/p>\n
MIAMI \u2014 Sandy Alcantara never stopped believing in himself.<\/p>\n
Not when Tommy John surgery robbed him of the 2024 season. Not when 2025 ended in a disappointing 11-12 record, and a 5.36 ERA.<\/p>\n
Instead, he kept the faith.<\/p>\n
Alcantara threw the first complete game of the MLB season in a 93-pitch shutout on Wednesday, leading the Miami Marlins to a 10-0 domination of the Chicago White Sox.<\/p>\n
It was Alcantara\u2019s second career shutout with fewer than 100 pitches, known as a \u201cMaddux\u201d in honor of Hall of Famer Greg Maddux. Alcantara also threw his 13th career complete game and fifth shutout.<\/p>\n
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