Shohei Ohtani will make his pitching debut at San Francisco’s Oracle Park on Saturday afternoon, marking a significant moment as the Los Angeles Dodgers face off against their National League West rivals, the San Francisco Giants. This highly anticipated matchup comes amid a spirited three-game series where the stakes run high and the rivalry deepens.
Giants secure narrow victory despite Ohtani’s power at the plate
The opening game of the series on Friday highlighted the offensive fireworks more than pitching efforts, with Ohtani delivering a powerful home run into the San Francisco Bay. Despite this, the Giants established an early six-run advantage and narrowly held onto an 8-7 win over the Dodgers. Acting as the designated hitter, Ohtani went one-for-four with his 32nd home run and a walk, while the Dodgers dropped their seventh consecutive game. The Giants, meanwhile, improved their record, securing their fifth win in six outings.
Giants’ efforts to sign Ohtani fell short as Dodgers land star with major contract
Before joining the Dodgers, Ohtani was heavily courted by the Giants, who mounted an aggressive campaign to recruit the two-way superstar after he became a free agent following the 2023 season. Instead, the 31-year-old signed with Los Angeles on a historic 10-year deal worth $700 million, despite knowing he would sit out the 2024 pitching season due to recent elbow surgery.
Ohtani’s return to pitching marks cautious but impressive progress
After a 22-month absence from the mound, Ohtani resumed pitching on June 16 with a one-inning appearance against the San Diego Padres. Since then, he has steadily increased his workload, pitching a handful of innings across several starts, while allowing only one run and four hits and striking out six batters. Addressing questions about his innings limits following his last outing, Ohtani emphasized a careful approach to his rehabilitation.
“In my rehab progression, it’s really important to just take one step at a time,”
he explained.
“There are times when I may be able to go another inning, but it’s really important not to take unnecessary risks and make sure that I can progress consistently.”
—Shohei Ohtani, Pitcher/Designated Hitter
Ohtani’s strong previous outings against the Giants raise expectations
Ohtani’s past performances against the Giants have been remarkable. As a member of the Los Angeles Angels, he started twice at Oracle Park, allowing one run over six innings with nine strikeouts in 2021 and pitching six shutout innings with five strikeouts in 2023. His cumulative statistics over 12 innings against the Giants include a 1-0 record and a 0.75 ERA, showcasing his effectiveness on this stage.
Willy Adames brings excitement to Giants’ lineup facing Ohtani
Among the Giants’ lineup, infielder Willy Adames stands out as he looks to notch his first career hit against Ohtani. The two have met only twice before, during a 2021 game when Adames was with Tampa Bay and Ohtani struck him out twice. Adames contributed significantly to the Giants’ opening game win on Friday, delivering a triple, a home run, and three RBIs. Speaking about the rivalry atmosphere, Adames shared his enthusiasm.
“That ninth inning (when the Dodgers got the potential tying run to second base), I was like, man, that feels like playoffs. Just the energy itself. I love playing those games. The fans showed up, and I love it.”
—Willy Adames, Infielder, San Francisco Giants
Landen Roupp aims to continue strong pitching form against Dodgers
Tasked with stopping the Dodgers’ losing streak from extending to eight games is Giants right-hander Landen Roupp, who has been the team’s most consistent pitcher over his last four starts. Roupp owns a 2-0 record with a 1.33 ERA during this stretch, allowing only three earned runs in over 20 innings. However, his recent history against the Dodgers is less encouraging, having lost a June 14 matchup where he struggled through 1⅔ innings and conceded six runs.
Despite those struggles, Roupp is expected to leverage his current momentum on Saturday to hold off the Dodgers’ offense, which includes Ohtani in both pitching and hitting roles.
Significance of Ohtani’s San Francisco debut and upcoming series implications
Shohei Ohtani’s first pitching appearance at Oracle Park symbolizes more than an individual milestone; it represents a critical chapter in the intense rivalry between the Dodgers and Giants, two of baseball’s fiercest competitors. His involvement adds heightened anticipation and narrative to the games, intensifying the competition for NL West supremacy.
The series outcome will influence team morale and standings, with the Giants appearing energized and the Dodgers seeking to end their losing slide. As Ohtani continues his careful pitching rehab, each inning in this high-stakes environment will offer insight into his durability and potential impact on the Dodgers’ postseason hopes.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Shohei Ohtani the only 50/50?
A. He and Ohtani are the only Dodgers to achieve this since at least 1901. Ohtani is known as the first part of the 50-50 club, but he stood out even at 43-43. Another way to see this is: his 51 home runs are the highest ever in a season with 50 steals in MLB history.