Shohei Ohtani made his third start of the season for the Dodgers and topped 100 mph in the first inning.

Ohtani worked two innings for the first time this season. The Japanese pitcher threw 27 pitches (20 for strikes), allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out one batter. In the first inning, Ohtani threw 101.7 mph, the fastest pitch by a Dodgers pitcher this season.

The Japanese pitcher continues to add starts to get used to pitching and be able to complete five or more innings. The Dodgers are in the second game of the series against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. This was his most innings and second most pitched start. In his first start, he threw 28 pitches (16 in the strike zone).

Ben Casparius took over for Ohtani but allowed two runs in his first inning pitched.

As a hitter, Shohei Ohtani continues to have a great offensive season. The Japanese hitter has a .291 batting average, 29 home runs, 7 triples, and an OPS above 1.000. If he can pitch more deeply during the second half of the season, Ohtani will be a strong candidate to win the NL MVP again. This year, he was the player with the most votes for the NL All-Star Game.

Dodgers' rotation begins to improve

With Ohtani's recovery and the solidity of Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers' rotation has managed to improve despite the numerous absences. In addition, Tyler Glasnow began his rehabilitation in the Minor Leagues and could join the big leagues in mid-July. Clayton Kershaw, meanwhile, has a record of four wins and no losses, a 3.03 ERA, and 29 strikeouts in eight starts in 2025. The left-hander, who is in his 18th season, is just three strikeouts away from 3,000 strikeouts.