Shohei Ohtani is experiencing a significant slump that is jeopardizing his National League Most Valuable Player aspirations and contributing to the Los Angeles Dodgers' offensive struggles. The two-way phenom has gone 5-for-40 over his last 10 games, a downturn that manager Dave Roberts acknowledged needs to be addressed.
Sunday's 0-for-5 performance against the Detroit Tigers highlighted Ohtani's recent difficulties. His pitch selection has been poor, leading to multiple strikeout games, and even hard-hit balls have been unsuccessful in escaping the infield. This slump has lowered his batting average to .280, its lowest point since late May, and his .908 OPS, while still ranking in the top five in MLB, would be his worst since 2022.
MVP Race Implications
Ohtani's struggles have allowed his chief MVP competitor, Pete Crow-Armstrong, to pull ahead. Crow-Armstrong's OPS rose to .944 after a recent three-homer performance, surpassing Ohtani's. Statistically, Ohtani is now slashing .280/.379/.529 with 30 home runs and 80 RBIs, while Crow-Armstrong is hitting .282/.377/.567 with 36 home runs and 89 RBIs. Advanced metrics, such as wins-above-replacement, also favor Crow-Armstrong, who provides additional value as a top center fielder.
Ohtani, a four-time MVP and three-time unanimous winner, has shifted from frontrunner to a secondary contender this season. His original plan to return to pitching on Sunday was postponed due to ongoing knee and biceps issues, casting further doubt on whether he will take the mound again this season.
Dodgers' Offensive Concerns
The Dodgers' immediate priority is to help Ohtani regain his offensive form. Roberts downplayed any direct correlation between Ohtani's recent pitching ramp-up and his hitting decline, attributing the offensive issues to routine flaws such as poor pitch selection and an overemphasis on pulling the ball. However, the limited time Ohtani has for hitting practice, whether on the field or in batting cages, is impacted by his commitments to pitching preparation. Team officials are considering this balance as they determine his pitching schedule upon returning to Los Angeles.
"Hopefully we can get home, get him in a better spot physically, mentally, whatever it is," Roberts stated, noting that Ohtani is "not 100 percent" due to multiple injuries. The Dodgers' season success may depend on Ohtani's ability to rebound offensively, as the team's lineup heavily relies on his performance, regardless of his pitching status.