Shohei Ohtani takes another step towards 50/50 season

[Kevin Barral]

One of the biggest storylines in all of Major League Baseball is in Miami. Shohei Ohtani finds himself two home runs and two stolen bases shy of a 50/50 season and the Miami Marlins react to the possibility of that occurring at loanDepot park.

MIAMI, FL - With the Marlins season set to end next week, one of the biggest storylines in baseball history walked into loanDepot park: Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese sensation entered Tuesday three home runs and two stolen bases shy of a 50/50 season, the first in MLB history. Following the game, Ohtani found himself just two homers and two stolen bases shy. Along with Ohtani taking another step forwards towards this accomplishment, the Miami Marlins offense knocked in 11 runs to win by a final score of 11-9.

"Probably the best player I've ever seen play," said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker. "He can do it all and he's rehabbing too. That's just what's so crazy, what he's doing on a rehab year...Not everybody's breaking records. There's only a few guys that can really do what he's doing. Acuña was 40/70, something crazy last year which is really something people really don't talk about. The thing that I still just don't understand is how he's such a good pitcher on rehab assignment doing these crazy things. It just blows my mind. I think he's going to continue to do this throughout his career. I don't think it's a one year type of thing."

This past offseason, Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700M contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers after spending six years with the Angles of Anaheim. Going into the series opener against the Marlins, Ohtani was slashing .288/.373/.609/.982. At the moment, Ohtani is the favorite to win the National League MVP. If he wins the award, he would become the second player in MLB history to accomplish the feat. The first to do it was Frank Robinson.

Someone who is rooting for Ohtani, especially in this series against the Marlins, is Skip Schumaker's son, Brody. "My son watches Shohei in LA and all his friends can't wait to see what Shohei did that night. There's only a couple guys that you stop and watch when they're hitting: Bryce, Harper, Manny Machado, Shohei, Betts and Freeman...Shohei is definitely a guy that around the league everyone stops to watch, to see what he's going to do. Just a special player and it should be fun for everybody to watch these three games."

Amongst big storylines entering Tuesday's series, Sandy Alcantara was certainly one of them. He threw his first live BP since undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. During his scrum following his throwing session, he was asked about Shohei Ohtani, who he has faced three times in his career. Alcantara has kept him hitless in three at-bats. 

"I think everybody is talking about that," said Alcantara. "I think he's a great player. I don't know how to be proud of this guy because he's been doing great in his long career. I think he just needs to keep doing what he's doing and hopefully he can get to 50/50."

Another pitcher who has faced Ohtani is Jesus Luzardo. Unlike Alcantara, Ohtani got to Luzardo once, hitting a home run off of him in 2021 when he was a member of the Oakland Athletics. Overall, Ohtani is 1-for-7 with four strikeouts against Luzardo. "It's cool to watch history," said Luzardo. "Obviously he's a great player on both sides of the ball and we wish him the best, just hopefully we come out on top."

After striking out in the top of the first inning, Ohtani took Marlins starter Darren McCaughan deep for a 402 foot home run, his 48th of the season. Aside from his home run at-bat, Ohtani didn't do too much, striking out in the following two at-bats before grounding out to finish his night.

When you have to face a top of the order that includes Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, expectations to win a baseball game are low, but on Tuesday night, the Marlins defied those odds and beat the Dodgers 11-9. 

"They don't go away," said Schumaker. "That offense is crazy. It just doesn't stop, there's no breaks. Our bullpen was outstanding today. I know Tinoco gave up a couple runs there at the end, but they really kept him at bay for the most part throughout the middle of the game, towards the end, provided some really big innings. I know a couple guys gave up a run, but that's okay, our offense just kept going."

Bobby Miller, who was a pillar in the Dodgers rotation last season, has had a sophomore slump that includes a 8.17 ERA through 12 starts. On Tuesday night, despite averaging 97.7 mph on his fastball, the Marlins made him work, knocking him out after two innings of work. Following his start, Millers' ERA increased to 8.52.

Of the most notable players for the Marlins was Jesus Sanchez, who went 5-for-5 with three RBI. It marks Sanchez's first career five-hit game and the first by a Marlin in 2024. Including Sanchez, eight of the nine players in the Marlins lineup were able to collect a base hit. Jake Burger, Otto Lopez, Jonah Bride, Jesus Sanchez and Kyle Stowers all had at least one RBI.

"He's got real power to the pull side," said Schumaker following the game. "He hit it the other way, took really good takes in high leverage counts and high leverage spots. If he ends up just being a guy that hits righties, it's pretty dang good. It means always over an .800 OPS that I think is only going to get better. As he gets older and understands the league more and the game-planning and what they're trying to do to him, he's a really dangerous bat in the lineup, especially against the righty."

Lopez, who has been hitting the ball well as of late, hit his sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the third inning. Burger gave the Marlins an 11-7 lead in the bottom of the eighth inning with his 26th home run of the season. This marked the Marlins sixth time in 2024 scoring double-digit runs. It was also the highest-scoring home game of the season for the Fish. 

Former Marlin Miguel Rojas had himself a feel-good moment in the top of the fourth inning when he took his former team deep for the first time since being traded back to the Dodgers. It was his sixth home run of the season and first at loanDepot park as a visiting player.

With the win, the Marlins move to 56-95 on the season and will look to win a series for the first time since defeating the San Francisco Giants on the road (August 30- September 1). As for the Dodgers, they drop to 89-62. Ryan Weathers is expected to be activated off the 60-day IL on Wednesday as he will take the mound. For the Dodgers, Landon Knack will make his 11th start of the season. First pitch will be at 6:40 pm.

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[THOMAS JOSEPH]

I'll be the jerk that says don't give Ohtani anything to hit - don't give a rip about the optics. Let Muncy or one of the other Hollywood dancers beat us. No way, if I am the pitcher, that I want to be a trivia question answer. Let some Rockies guy give up number 50. Don't care about Ohtani, the records, the Dodgers, or what the league wants. This is our house and there needs to be a modicum of respect from somewhere.

PS: I like Muncy and Betts with their little dances. Sore ribs for them both. Grow some cajónes, Marlins pitchers. Of course, they, too, are so enthralled with Ohtani. Cowboy the "f" up and ambush these teams as the season closes. Respect.  It's something taken on the baseball field. Then you can go into the post-game press conference and gush about Ohtani, Mr. Regular Season Roberts, and the Dodgers. 

[Jay_Sizzle]

Man.... imagine if the Marlins were a hotbed for elite int'l talent 😖