Shohei Ohtani will continue his transition back to a regular starting pitcher role when the Los Angeles Dodgers open their three-game series against the Minnesota Twins on Monday. The Dodgers are relying more than ever on Ohtani’s rare two-way skills after recently enduring a difficult stretch.
The Dodgers enter the series having lost 10 of their last 12 games, including a sweep by the Milwaukee Brewers less than two weeks ago. Ohtani’s previous start, before the All-Star break against the San Francisco Giants, was one of only two victories during this slump.
Ohtani’s recent performance underscores his value
In Sunday’s 6-5 loss to Milwaukee, Ohtani contributed a two-run home run, though the Dodgers extended their home losing streak to six games — their longest since 2017. Despite the team struggles, manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani’s contributions.
He’s doing everything we need from him,
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
Ohtani, who is rebuilding endurance after Tommy John surgery last year, pitched three innings during his start in San Francisco, his longest outing since the operation. On Monday, he is expected to pitch a similar workload as the Dodgers carefully manage his return to full-time starting duties.
The goal is to go three innings and then we’ve got Dustin May to take down as much of the game as we need behind him,
—Dave Roberts, Dodgers manager
Ohtani’s strong history against Minnesota offers hope
Ohtani has a solid track record against the Twins, holding a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in three career starts. He has struck out 27 batters over 17 1/3 innings while allowing just a few runs. As a hitter, Ohtani is batting .301 with six home runs, six doubles, and 14 RBIs in 24 games against Minnesota.
The Dodgers shuffled their lineup on Sunday, moving struggling outfielder Mookie Betts to the leadoff spot and placing Ohtani second. Betts, who had hit .195 over his last 21 games and .107 in the previous seven, singled just before Ohtani’s home run in Sunday’s game.
I’m a team guy. I want the boys to play well,
I want us to win. If I’m not performing, there’s no reason I should be on the field to play.
—Mookie Betts, Dodgers outfielder
Twins set to counter with David Festa on mound
The Twins will counter with right-hander David Festa, who is 3-3 with a 5.25 ERA this season but has improved recently with two wins in his last three starts. Festa has never faced the Dodgers but performed well in his last outing against the Chicago Cubs on July 9, allowing two runs over 5 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Festa’s challenge will be to manage the potent Dodgers lineup, particularly aiming to contain Ohtani both on the mound and at the plate.
Obviously, I think it’s cool to face some of the better guys in the game, but at the end of the day, all these guys are good,
Whoever I’m going up against, you kind of have to handle it the same way, but it will be cool to go up against (Ohtani) and, obviously, a really great team like the Dodgers.
—David Festa, Twins pitcher
Twins come into series with momentum after recent win
The Minnesota Twins arrive in Los Angeles following a decisive 7-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, avoiding a sweep in their current series. Minnesota’s pitching had struggled in the first two games, allowing a combined 16 runs, but the strong Sunday effort helped restore confidence.
Several Twins players contributed to Sunday’s win, including Royce Lewis, who hit two home runs—his first multi-homer game in the major leagues. Matt Walner and Harrison Bader also homered. Lewis, a Southern California native, grew up between Los Angeles and San Diego, giving him a personal connection to the Dodgers’ home turf.
Looking ahead: series implications and expectations
Monday’s opener features Shohei Ohtani pitching on short rest as the Dodgers aim to stop their losing streak and gain momentum in a crucial series against the Twins. Ohtani’s dual threat will be vital if Los Angeles hopes to reverse recent form. Meanwhile, the Twins, buoyed by their recent win and youthful talent, look to build on their success.
The matchup pits a recovering star navigating his return to full pitching duties against a motivated Twins team with emerging arms and hitters. How the Dodgers’ management balances Ohtani’s workload and how the Twins adjust to his presence could shape the outcome of this key series.