Ohtani Begins Cy Young Pursuit with Shutout Outing

Dodgers' two-way star dominates in season opener

Apr. 2, 2026 at 11:12pm

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An extreme close-up of Shohei Ohtani's pitching motion, with his face and uniform details obscured by vibrant, expressionist brushstrokes in neon colors, capturing the raw energy and power of his performance on the mound.Ohtani's electric start to the season puts him on the path to his first Cy Young Award.Los Angeles Today

Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way superstar, opened his quest for his first career Cy Young Award with a dominant six-inning shutout performance in the team's season opener.

Why it matters

Ohtani has accomplished nearly everything in his illustrious MLB career, but a Cy Young Award has eluded him so far. This strong start to the season puts him on track to potentially win the prestigious pitching award and cement his status as one of the greatest players of his generation.

The details

Ohtani was in complete control on the mound, striking out 10 batters and allowing just three hits over his six scoreless innings. The Dodgers' offense provided plenty of run support, giving Ohtani a comfortable lead to work with throughout the game.

  • Ohtani's six-shutout-inning performance came in the Dodgers' season opener on April 2, 2026.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way superstar for the Los Angeles Dodgers, known for his elite pitching and hitting abilities.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The professional baseball team Ohtani plays for, based in Los Angeles, California.

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What’s next

Ohtani will look to build on this strong start as he continues his quest for his first career Cy Young Award throughout the 2026 MLB season.

The takeaway

Shohei Ohtani's dominant season-opening performance puts him on track to potentially win his first Cy Young Award, cementing his status as one of the greatest players of his generation.