Shohei Ohtani's pursuit of a National League Cy Young Award appears to have taken a significant hit after his recent knee injury delayed his return to the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation. Speaking on Foul Territory, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal said the two-way superstar is now unlikely to pitch enough innings to remain a serious contender for the award.
Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled start before the All-Star break because of left knee inflammation and fluid buildup. The fluid was drained, allowing him to continue serving as the Dodgers' designated hitter, but his pitching progression has been paused indefinitely.
Before the setback, Ohtani was putting together one of the best pitching seasons in baseball. Through 14 starts, he owned an 8-2 record with a 1.79 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP and 95 strikeouts across 85 2/3 innings.
Ohtani has remained equally dominant at the plate, batting .290 with 22 home runs, 60 RBIs and six stolen bases. His two-way production has kept him among the favorites for the National League MVP despite the interruption to his pitching schedule.
Rosenthal noted that missing additional starts will likely prevent Ohtani from reaching the innings total typically needed to win the Cy Young Award. While his rate statistics remain elite, the reduced workload gives other National League aces a considerable advantage.
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The Dodgers entered the week with a 63-37 record, comfortably leading the National League West by 11.5 games over the Arizona Diamondbacks. That cushion gives Los Angeles the flexibility to prioritize Ohtani's long-term health instead of rushing him back to the mound.
Although his Cy Young hopes may have faded, Ohtani remains one of the game's most valuable players because of his offensive production. The Dodgers' focus will be ensuring their superstar is fully healthy for another postseason run rather than chasing an individual pitching award.
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