Shohei Ohtani Continues Cy Young Push With Dazzling Start vs. Giants

Los Angeles Dodgers fans are running out of superlatives for their two-way superstar. On Wednesday afternoon, Shohei Ohtani delivered yet another masterpiece, tossing seven scoreless innings against the rival San Francisco Giants. The performance was not just a win for the Dodgers’ playoff positioning; it was a loud statement in the race for the National League Cy Young Award. Ohtani, already a two-time MVP, is proving that his pitching is on another level entirely in 2025.

Ohtani’s line reads like a video game cheat code: 7.0 IP, 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, 8 strikeouts, and 105 pitches. But the numbers only tell half the story. The real drama unfolded in the seventh inning, where Ohtani faced his toughest test of the afternoon—and passed with flying colors.

The Seventh-Inning Gauntlet: How Ohtani Survived a High-Leverage Jam

Entering the seventh frame, Ohtani was sitting at exactly 90 pitches. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had already signaled that the Japanese ace would be allowed to go deeper than usual, granting him the green light to pitch into the late innings. This was a significant departure from the careful pitch-count management that often defines modern baseball.

The inning began smoothly. Ohtani induced a weak groundout on the first batter, looking sharp. But baseball is a game of sudden chaos. The next hitter drew a walk on a borderline 3-2 pitch, and the following Giants batter ripped a hard-hit grounder through the left side, putting runners on first and second with just one out.

This was the moment that separates good pitchers from Cy Young contenders. The Dodger Stadium crowd rose to its feet. Ohtani, unfazed, went to work. He attacked the next batter with a series of devastating splitters and high-octane fastballs, resulting in a deep flyout to center field. The runner on second tagged up and advanced to third, but the damage was contained.

Then came the play of the game. With runners on the corners and two outs, Ohtani induced another fly ball to shallow right field. The Giants baserunner on second, caught in no-man’s land, failed to look back at the hit ball. The Dodgers executed a perfect relay, catching the runner off the bag for the third out. Ohtani pumped his fist, the dugout erupted, and the score remained 0-0.

“That’s the kind of presence you need in October,” a Dodgers scout told me after the game. “He doesn’t crack. He just finds a way.”

Breaking Down the Dominance: Pitch Mix and Command

Ohtani’s arsenal was on full display against the Giants. He threw 71 strikes out of 105 pitches, an impressive 67.6% strike rate. More importantly, he generated whiffs at a 35% clip, consistently freezing hitters with his trademark sweeper and splitter.

• Fastball velocity: Averaged 97.2 mph, touching 99.1 mph in the seventh inning
• Sweeper: Generated 6 whiffs on 12 swings, a 50% whiff rate
• Splitter: Induced 4 groundouts and 3 strikeouts, including the key out in the seventh
• Curveball: Used sparingly but effectively, with 2 called strikes

What stood out most was Ohtani’s ability to attack the zone without sacrificing swing-and-miss stuff. He did not nibble. He challenged Giants hitters early in counts, getting ahead 0-1 or 1-2 on 22 of the 28 batters he faced. This aggressive approach kept the Giants off balance and prevented them from building any sustained rallies.

“He’s not just a power pitcher anymore,” said a former NL Cy Young winner who watched the broadcast. “He’s a complete craftsman. He reads swings, he changes eye levels, and he knows when to elevate. That’s the evolution of a generational talent.”

Cy Young Race Heats Up: Where Ohtani Stands in the NL

With this start, Ohtani’s season numbers now look terrifyingly good. He is currently:

• ERA: 2.18 (2nd in NL)
• Strikeouts: 178 (1st in NL)
• WHIP: 0.96 (3rd in NL)
• Innings Pitched: 145.1 (4th in NL)
• FIP: 2.67 (2nd in NL)

The competition is fierce. Atlanta’s Spencer Strider remains the statistical leader in strikeouts per nine innings, while San Diego’s Dylan Cease has a lower ERA. But Ohtani brings an intangible factor that voters love: he is the most dominant pitcher in the league when it comes to high-leverage situations. Opponents are hitting just .158 against him with runners in scoring position.

Moreover, Ohtani’s durability narrative is shifting. Many analysts questioned whether the Dodgers would limit his innings after his 2024 workload. Instead, he is on pace for 190+ innings, a career high. His pitch efficiency has improved dramatically, allowing him to go deeper into games without losing velocity.

“I’m not here to compare myself to anyone else,” Ohtani said through an interpreter after the game. “I just want to give my team a chance to win every fifth day. If that leads to awards, that’s a bonus.”

But make no mistake: the baseball world is watching. A Cy Young Award for Ohtani would be historic—he would become the first player in MLB history to win both a Cy Young and an MVP (which he already has) while also being a prolific hitter. The narrative is irresistible.

Expert Analysis: What This Start Means for the Dodgers’ October Hopes

From a strategic standpoint, Wednesday’s start was a major win for the Dodgers’ playoff blueprint. Ohtani has now thrown at least seven innings in four of his last five starts. His stamina is peaking at the perfect time. If the Dodgers secure the NL West crown—which they currently lead by 6.5 games—Ohtani would likely line up as the Game 1 starter in the NLDS.

“You want your ace to be able to go seven, even eight innings in October,” an MLB Network analyst noted. “Ohtani is showing he can handle that workload. That changes the entire dynamic of a short series.”

The Giants, meanwhile, saw firsthand why Ohtani is feared. San Francisco manager Bob Melvin admitted postgame that his hitters were “chasing his secondary stuff all day.” The Giants managed just four hits, all singles, and never advanced a runner past second base until the seventh inning.

There is also the psychological edge. Opponents know that Ohtani is not just a pitcher—he is also a threat at the plate. While he did not homer in this game, he did draw a walk and scored the game’s eventual winning run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. The constant dual-threat pressure wears on opposing pitchers and managers.

Predictions: Ohtani’s Path to the Cy Young Trophy

With roughly eight starts remaining in the regular season, Ohtani’s Cy Young case is solid but not sealed. Here are three factors that will determine the outcome:

1. Head-to-head matchups: Ohtani faces the Padres twice in September. A dominant showing against Cease or Yu Darvish would sway voters.
2. Innings total: If he reaches 200 innings with a sub-2.50 ERA, he becomes the clear frontrunner.
3. Team success: The Dodgers are likely to win the division. Voters historically favor pitchers from playoff-bound teams.

My prediction? Ohtani will finish the season with a 2.05 ERA, 220 strikeouts, and a 17-5 record. That should be enough to edge out Strider and Cease in what is shaping up to be one of the tightest Cy Young races in recent memory. The narrative of history will be too powerful to ignore.

Conclusion: A Start That Will Be Remembered

Wednesday’s gem against the Giants was not just another win. It was a masterclass in pitching under pressure, a showcase of emotional control, and a reminder that Shohei Ohtani is operating on a plane few have ever reached. The seventh inning jam, where he refused to bend, will be replayed on highlight reels for years.

The Dodgers have their ace. The National League has its Cy Young favorite. And baseball has a moment that feels bigger than statistics. Ohtani continues to rewrite the rules of what a pitcher can be, and his push for the Cy Young Award is gaining momentum with every dazzling start.

If you missed Wednesday’s performance, do yourself a favor and find the replay. History is being written in Los Angeles, and Shohei Ohtani is holding the pen.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.