Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani continues quest for excellence in clash vs. Pirates

As Shohei Ohtani continues his attack on the record books, he will take the mound for the 11th time this season when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Wednesday night.

Ohtani (6-2, 0.74 ERA) will oppose fellow right-hander Jared Jones (1-0, 4.82) of the Pirates as he continues not only his chase of a third consecutive National League MVP, but perhaps his first Cy Young Award.

Ohtani next will try to continue one of the best starts by any pitcher in major league history. His ERA is the third-best through the first 10 starts of a season, behind only Jacob deGrom (0.56 in 2021) and Juan Marichal (0.59 in 1966) since earned runs became a stat in 1913, according to MLB.com.

In his most recent start, Ohtani threw six shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk with six strikeouts, in a 7-0 win over Arizona last Wednesday. And his success on the mound has had no ill effects on his performance at the plate, as Ohtani is hitting .411 since May 12. His batting average has risen from .233 to .301.

Ohtani reached base five times in the Arizona game, joining Hod Eller (1920), Mel Parnell (1951) and Mel Stottlemyre (1964) as the only players who have done that and pitched six or more scoreless innings in the same game since 1900.

"I think a lot of starting pitchers, you feel your way into a game and you give up a couple early and you bear down," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. "But I've noticed with Shohei, every run is a premium. He's literally trying to throw a shutout every time he goes out there, where I don't know if every starter has that mindset."

Ohtani's lone career start against the Pirates didn't go well, though. He gave up five runs on six hits, including four home runs, despite striking out nine on July 21, 2023, as a member of the Los Angeles Angels.

The Pirates could use a similar performance in Ohtani's PNC Park pitching debut as they try to snap a four-game skid.

Pittsburgh is banged-up, with center fielder Oneil Cruz dealing with a left hand laceration and rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin sidelined by a right forearm strain.

Griffin said to reporters on Tuesday that he was told by a doctor not to throw for two full weeks. According to Todd Tomczyk, the Pirates' director of sports medicine, there's no concern about Griffin needing surgery.

Pittsburgh's bullpen continues to struggle after three relievers combined to allow 10 runs in the seventh inning on Tuesday night in a 12-3 loss to the Dodgers.

Jones will make his third start since returning from a 20-month absence due to elbow surgery. He bounced back from a rough first outing on May 29 by pitching five shutout innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out four last Thursday in a 5-1 win at Houston.

Jones pitched six shutout innings and allowed only three hits in his lone career start against the Dodgers -- a 1-0 win -- on June 4, 2024.

Jones, who grew up in Los Angeles County and attended Dodgers games, said recently that he was excited to face Ohtani.

"He's been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year, so it'll be a fun matchup," Jones said.

In a move on Tuesday, the Pirates traded right-handed pitcher Carson Fulmer to the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations.

--Field Level Media