Shohei Ohtani made an immediate impact in Cleveland on Monday by homering on the very first pitch of the game, giving the Los Angeles Dodgers an early advantage. His 19th home run of the season, the highest in Major League Baseball at this point, helped propel the Dodgers to a 7-2 win over the Guardians.
Concerns about Ohtani’s health following a simulated pitching session where he threw 22 pitches the day before quickly dissipated as the two-way star showed no signs of fatigue.
He came out of it feeling good,
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
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.
Upcoming Matchup: Dodgers vs. Guardians’ Tanner Bibee
The Dodgers will face Guardians’ starting pitcher Tanner Bibee on Tuesday night. Bibee holds a 4-4 record with a 3.57 ERA this season, while the Dodgers will counter with right-hander Dustin May, who has a 2-4 record and a 4.09 ERA. This will be May’s first career appearance against Cleveland.
The Dodgers’ offense troubled Cleveland’s starter Gavin Williams in the opener, forcing him to throw 109 pitches and issue six walks over 4 2/3 innings. Los Angeles matched their season-high with eight walks, including two each 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,
said Will Smith.
Williams acknowledged the difficulty of facing Los Angeles’ lineup, saying,
It’s definitely tough because they foul off good pitches. 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 Historic Season and Performance Against Bibee
Ohtani’s 19 homers in 54 games tie him for second-most in Dodgers history, just one behind Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges’ 1951 mark. He leads the majors with five leadoff home runs this season and has achieved consecutive games with leadoff homers for the second time in his career.
Regarding the upcoming matchup, Ohtani holds a 2-for-6 batting record with one solo home run against Tanner Bibee.
Bibee’s performance at home this season has been exceptional, with a 1.46 ERA across four starts, though his lone outing against the Dodgers this year ended with a loss after allowing two runs over five innings on the road.
Dustin May’s Pitching and Guardians’ Offense Led by Jose Ramirez
Dustin May enters the game after winning his last start against the Arizona Diamondbacks, permitting only one run in six innings on May 21. Despite losing three of his previous four outings, May is optimistic as he faces Cleveland for the first time.
On the offensive side, Guardians’ third baseman Jose Ramirez is enjoying a career-best 19-game hitting streak. Ramirez, a six-time All-Star, went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Monday’s loss, hitting .387 with four home runs and 11 RBIs during this stretch.
Gavin Williams praised Ramirez, stating, He’s unbelievable.
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt echoed the sentiment, saying,
Jose is one of the best hitters on the planet.
Fan Engagement and Economic Impact of Dodgers’ Visit to Cleveland
The sold-out crowd at the ballpark demonstrated strong enthusiasm for the series, with special advertising in Japanese celebrating the Dodgers’ visit. This marked Cleveland’s third sellout of the 2025 season, while tickets for the remaining two games are almost sold out.
The matchup not only showcases intense competition between two talented teams but also highlights Shohei Ohtani’s significant influence on the Dodgers’ performance as they prepare for their next encounter with the Guardians.