Ohtani's Pitching Masterclass Powers Dodgers to Series Sweep

Shohei Ohtani struck out 10 batters across six dominant innings to lead the Dodgers to an 8-2 victory over the Mets.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:49am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting Shohei Ohtani's pitching motion, with sharp planes of color representing the Dodgers and Mets uniforms, conceptually illustrating the dominance of his performance.Ohtani's overpowering pitching performance dismantles the Mets' offense through a cubist lens.Los Angeles Today

Shohei Ohtani delivered a dominant pitching performance, striking out 10 batters over six innings to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to an 8-2 victory over the New York Mets and complete a three-game series sweep at Dodger Stadium. For the first time since 2021, Ohtani pitched without being in the lineup as a hitter due to a bruised right shoulder.

Why it matters

Ohtani's pitching brilliance was on full display as he channeled his complete focus into the mound, showcasing his ability to dominate hitters when he dedicates himself solely to pitching. This performance highlighted Ohtani's unparalleled two-way talents and why he remains baseball's most captivating talent.

The details

Ohtani cruised through the first four innings, allowing just one baserunner. His only real trouble came in the fifth when walks put two Mets on base with one out. Ohtani then unleashed four consecutive fastballs exceeding 100 mph to escape the jam, including a 100.4 mph heater to Francisco Lindor that marked his hardest pitch of the season. Ohtani finished the night by striking out the side in the sixth, using a mix of his complete arsenal.

  • Ohtani struck out 10 batters across six dominant innings on Wednesday night (April 16, 2026).
  • This was the first time since 2021 that Ohtani pitched without being in the lineup as a hitter.

The players

Shohei Ohtani

A two-way superstar for the Los Angeles Dodgers who delivered a dominant pitching performance, striking out 10 batters over six innings to lead the team to an 8-2 victory over the New York Mets.

MJ Melendez

A Mets player who hit a ground-rule double in the fifth inning, snapping Ohtani's remarkable 32⅔-inning scoreless streak dating back to last season.

Tommy Pham

A Mets player who struck out against Ohtani's 100.2 mph and 100.3 mph fastballs in the fifth inning.

Francisco Lindor

A Mets player who lined out against Ohtani's 100.1 mph and 100.4 mph fastballs in the fifth inning, with the 100.4 mph pitch marking Ohtani's hardest of the season.

Dave Roberts

The manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who acknowledged Ohtani's preference for hitting but emphasized the unique situation of him pitching without batting.

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What they’re saying

“It was actually really good to watch him just focus on one thing. I thought that just channeling all that energy into pitching was helpful.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

“I can't go full throttle the whole time. But considering where the game was at that point, I felt like I just really had to go full throttle.”

— Shohei Ohtani

“Everyone knows what he can do with the bat, everyone knows what he can do with the baseball. But being able to separate the two sometimes, it's honestly better.”

— Dave Roberts, Dodgers Manager

What’s next

Ohtani will look to continue his dominant pitching when he takes the mound for his next start on April 21st against the San Francisco Giants.

The takeaway

Ohtani's pitching masterclass showcased his unparalleled two-way talents and why he remains baseball's most captivating talent. By dedicating his full attention to pitching, he delivered one of his most dominant outings yet, further cementing his status as a generational player.