While still tied atop the National League West division, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in something of a slump. The struggles of Shohei Ohtani may be the perfect embodiment of those struggles.
The Dodgers have lost seven of their last eleven games and have not won three games in a row since April 28. In that time, they’ve lost series to the Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals – two teams with payrolls over $200m less than them.
Over the weekend, they lost yet another series – this time, to the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves – with a pair of 7-2 losses sealing their fate.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the slump that two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been going through.
The Japanese star has not been performing to the standard of his $700million contract in recent days, having struggled throughout the start of May.
Ohtani has not hit a home run yet this month and went a combined 2-of-12 at the plate in the series against Atlanta.
Shohei Ohtani’s May slump couldn’t be snapped as the Dodgers lost to the Braves on Sunday
Ohtani has yet to hit a home run this month and has a batting average of .129 in 31 at-bats
Through the month of May, Ohtani has gone a shocking 4-of-31 at the dish with just a single extra-base hit and three RBI in total across eight games played.
He’s slashing a worrisome .129/.250/.161 in that period as well as the Dodgers have given up the NL West division lead to now share it with the rival San Diego Padres.
Pitching has not been much better, with Ohtani losing his only start of the month against the Houston Astros when he gave up two home runs in a 2-1 defeat.Â
As for the whole season, Ohtani has crushed just six home runs in 141 plate appearances, but slashes a better .241/.374/.418 and has 16 RBI to his name.
On the mound, he’s got a 2-2 record and has only given up four earned-runs and the aforementioned pair of Astros home runs while owning a 0.97 ERA.
Ohtani and the Dodgers will look to rebound with a four-game series against the rival San Francisco Giants at home.
