Shohei Ohtani, after a rare tough outing at the plate, is scheduled to take the mound again Wednesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers seek to complete a three-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds. The right-hander is expected to extend his pitching workload amid ongoing recovery from elbow surgery last September.
Recent Performances Highlight Ohtani’s Gradual Pitching Build-Up
In his seventh start of the season, Ohtani aims to continue strengthening his arm after missing all of last season following major elbow surgery. His pitching innings have progressively increased: from one inning in his first two starts, to two innings in the next two, and three innings in his two most recent outings. His last start against the Minnesota Twins saw him allow one run on four hits across three innings, contributing to a 5-2 Dodgers victory.
Previously, Ohtani’s only start against Cincinnati took place last August when he was with the Los Angeles Angels. He pitched 1⅓ scoreless innings before leaving due to arm tenderness, which led to his subsequent surgery. For Wednesday’s game, the Dodgers plan to extend him to four innings as part of his workload progression.
Reds Look to Avoid First Series Sweep of the Season
The Cincinnati Reds will counter with right-hander Nick Martinez, who has a 9-9 record and a 4.69 ERA this season and will make his 22nd start. After a slow start to the year with a 4-8 record, Martinez has found recent success, winning five of his last six starts. In his most recent outing, he pitched five innings and allowed two runs in a 7-2 Reds victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Reds are also fighting to avoid a sweep for the first time this year, having avoided this outcome in each of their first 34 series, which already surpasses their previous club record of 32 series from 1970. They remain the only major league team to not be swept so far in 2025.
Game Developments Offer Insight into Series Competitiveness
On Tuesday night, the Reds led 4-2 entering the fifth inning after loading the bases with no outs but could only add a single run. The Dodgers later rallied, tying the game in the seventh inning and ultimately winning in the ninth. Dodgers catcher Will Smith played a vital role in the comeback, driving in the go-ahead run with a ninth-inning double and finishing the game with two hits, raising his batting average to .325, the highest in the National League.
Smith is also hitting .373 in situations with runners in scoring position, ranking second in the majors for that statistic.
Managerial Observations on Key Moments and Player Performances
Cincinnati manager Terry Francona reflected on the narrow defeat, saying,
“It would have been nice if we could have spread it out, for sure, just because of what happened. They blooped a ball into right, and then we moved guys back so the second run doesn’t score, and then a ball falls in front.”
Regarding Smith’s hitting approach, he stated,
“It’s honestly just the same approach I have all the time. [I’m] just trying to get a pitch to hit and then move forward.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Smith, adding,
“He just has a great way of controlling the strike zone, not chasing, and he knows how to get a base hit.”
Looking Ahead: Ohtani’s Role and Series Implications
Shohei Ohtani’s increasing pitching workload is a critical step in his comeback from surgery and will be closely watched as the Dodgers attempt to sweep a Reds team that has resisted such outcomes all season. If Ohtani can extend his innings successfully, it may signal a return to higher-impact pitching roles for the Dodgers’ two-way star. Meanwhile, the Reds are motivated to maintain their flawless record in avoiding series sweeps, making Wednesday’s matchup a high-stakes contest with significant momentum implications for both teams.