If you blinked, you might’ve missed it — but Shohei Ohtani gave us a flash of his two-way brilliance again on Saturday, the kind that makes you stop and say, “Yep, that’s why he’s special.”
Sure, the scoreboard didn’t end the way Dodgers fans hoped. The team lost 9-5 to the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, ending a five-game win streak. But the bigger takeaway? Ohtani's arm — fresh off a second Tommy John surgery — is heating up, and it’s a sight to behold.
Let’s rewind a bit.
Early Jitters, Then Fire
Ohtani’s third start of the season didn’t begin all too promising. Three batters in, and it looked like he might unravel. First, Bobby Witt Jr. laced a single. Then, Maikel Garcia earned a five-pitch walk — most of those pitches low and wide. With one out and two on, Ohtani stood stoic on the mound, seemingly dissatisfied with his execution.
Then came the fireworks.
Vinnie Pasquantino stepped in, and Ohtani unleashed a trio of fastballs so lethal, they might’ve left scorch marks on the radar gun.
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First: 99.2 mph fastball, painted inside. Strike one.
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Second: 100.2 mph, hugging the black. Strike two.
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Third: Boom. A searing 101.7 mph heater — the fastest pitch of his MLB career. Pasquantino barely caught up with it, grounding into a tailor-made double play.
Just like that, Shohei flipped the switch.
Locked In and Lights Out
After that early hiccup, Ohtani found his rhythm. He retired the side in the second inning with ease. His pitch count? Just 27. Strikes? 20 of them. And three swings and misses — including a sizzling fastball and a slider that danced just before the plate to sit down Jac Caglianone.
Even in just a brief outing, Ohtani was electric. Four innings into his return this year, he’s only given up one run and three hits. His fastball’s consistently touched triple digits, and his breaking pitches? Just plain filthy.
It was his most complete performance yet since resuming two-way duties — and a sign that the Dodgers’ investment in his recovery is beginning to pay off.
The Bullpen Blow-Up
But while Ohtani was dealing, the rest of the pitching staff… well, wasn’t.
Right after Ohtani exited, the Dodgers handed the ball to Ben Casparius. The result? A four-inning mess. Casparius gave up six runs and saw his ERA balloon to 7.82. This is his third piggyback appearance behind Ohtani in the past three weeks — and none have gone smoothly.
Defense didn’t help him either. In the third inning, Teoscar Hernández misplayed a blooper down the right-field line, which would’ve ended the frame. Instead, the inning continued, and Maikel Garcia made them pay with a two-run double.
Fast forward to the fifth: Andy Pages misjudged a ball in center, and things spiraled. Vinnie Pasquantino — who Ohtani had earlier embarrassed — got his revenge with a three-run homer that blew the game wide open.
Dodgers Offense Stalled
The bats weren’t any better. Kansas City's Seth Lugo had the Dodgers fooled all night. The crafty right-hander scattered four hits, walked five… and still managed to keep L.A. off the board until the late innings. He struck out eight, and none of the nine Dodgers who reached base against him managed to score.
Even Freddie Freeman, despite breaking out of a slump with three hits and a seventh-inning solo homer, couldn’t spark enough offense to threaten the lead — not until a too-little-too-late four-run surge in the ninth.
This loss wasn’t just on the bullpen. It was a team-wide unraveling, minus Ohtani and Freeman.
A Glimmer of Long-Term Hope
Despite the loss, Dodgers fans can’t help but focus on the big picture. Ohtani’s return to pitching has been handled with extreme caution, and it’s paying off. He’s not stretched out to go deep in games yet — that’s by design — but the quality of his innings is undeniable.
His fastball velocity is not only back; it’s better than before. His slider is sharp. His mechanics look clean. And his confidence? Steady as ever.
The plan remains fluid — the Dodgers still don’t know when he’ll be able to go full length. But even in limited action, he’s flashing dominance that gives this rotation serious upside.
Reinforcements on the Horizon?
Meanwhile, the team’s rotation depth remains a bit shaky, and they’re keeping a close eye on their injured arms in Oklahoma City and L.A.
Here’s a quick look at the Dodgers’ injury updates:
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Tyler Glasnow struggled in his second rehab start Friday, allowing five runs in 2⅓ innings. The plan was for him to hit four innings, but he fell short. Manager Dave Roberts says he’ll need at least two more rehab outings before coming back. He’s been out since April with a shoulder injury.
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Emmet Sheehan, who returned from his own Tommy John rehab earlier this month, just pitched six perfect innings with 13 strikeouts in triple-A. While the Dodgers optioned him to keep ramping up, he could return to the big club after one more start.
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Blake Snell (shoulder) and Blake Treinen (forearm) are both ramping up bullpen sessions. They’re nearing the phase of live BP and simulated games.
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Roki Sasaki (shoulder) is also playing catch again and finally “feeling really good,” per Roberts. He’s been sidelined nearly two months but may start moving toward a return soon.
What’s Next?
Now sitting at 52-32, the Dodgers will aim to bounce back in Sunday’s rubber match. Their lead in the NL West remains intact, but consistency — especially in the middle of the pitching staff — continues to be an issue.
Still, Saturday’s biggest storyline wasn’t the bullpen collapse. It wasn’t even Pasquantino’s revenge homer.
It was Shohei Ohtani, throwing flames and making history with a 101.7 mph dart. That one pitch — that moment — reminded everyone just how terrifying and thrilling a healthy Shohei can be.
And if Saturday’s performance is any indication, the best may be just around the corner.
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