Apr 25, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) flies out in the eighth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Shohei Ohtani will take another crack at recovering from his current downturn when the Los Angeles Dodgers play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday in the middle contest of a three-game series.
Ohtani is 2-for-16 with six strikeouts going back to Sunday when he returned from a short absence to attend the birth of his first child. But the three-time MVP has not been up to his standard all season, batting .250 with an .814 OPS.
He does have six home runs with 23 runs but has just eight RBIs.
“I don’t know if he’s trying to do something, trying too hard,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “There’s a couple walks in there. But there’s other times where he’s getting himself out instead of taking a walk if given to him.”
Friday figured to be a long night for the Dodgers anyway while up against Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Ohtani went 0-for-4, while the Dodgers were kept off the scoreboard for the second time this season in a 3-0 defeat.
While Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched for Los Angeles on Friday, fellow Japan countryman Roki Sasaki (0-1, 3.20 ERA) will take the mound Saturday. In his most recent start, the fifth of the rookie right-hander’s career, Sasaki gave up two runs on two hits and three walks in six innings but took the loss in a 4-3 defeat to the Texas Rangers.
Sasaki managed to extend his outing to a career best in innings, on just 78 pitches, even as his fastball registered 92 mph in the early innings, after he was nearly at 97 mph over his first four starts.
“My command of my fastball and my offspeed were pretty good, so I’m really happy with that,” Sasaki said through an interpreter. “I was surprised with the fastball velo in the first inning myself. But I was able to really kind of dig into what I needed to do and make some mechanical changes. I was able to increase the velo a little bit.”
The Pirates will counter with right-hander Mitch Keller (1-2, 4.18), who earned the win in his 2025 debut but has gone 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in his last four starts. He gave up two runs on five hits over five innings of a no-decision against the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday.
Keller will look to continue a solid six-game road trip to the Los Angeles area for the Pirates, who are 3-1 against the Angels and Dodgers so far. Keller is 2-3 with a 7.54 ERA in five lifetime starts against the Dodgers.
Skenes set the blueprint for Keller on how to control the Dodgers when he gave up five hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in his 6 1/3 innings.
While the overall night was positive for Pittsburgh on Friday, leadoff man Oneil Cruz appeared to experience right side discomfort following a 117.6-mph RBI single to right field in the fifth inning. He was examined by a trainer but remained in the game.
Cruz belted home runs in the final two games of the series against the Angels and hit a 119.6 mph line out to end Thursday’s loss to the Angels before his blistering single Friday while scoring two runs.
“He just got good pitches to hit,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said of Cruz. “He’s not going outside the zone, and he got the barrel on the ball.”
–Field Level Media
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Bucks star G Damian Lillard injures left leg, out vs. Pacers in Game 4
Apr 25, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after making a basket against the Indiana Pacers in the second half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard exited Sunday night's home playoff game against the Indiana Pacers with a potentially serious lower left leg injury. Lillard was hurt while seeking a long offensive rebound and he fell to the floor while tapping the ball forward shortly before the midway point of the first quarter. He immediately grabbed for his lower left leg and was unable to get up. Milwaukee's Brook Lopez committed a foul with 5:57 left in the quarter to stop play and trainers then attended to Lillard. He eventually was helped off the court while […]
Jeff Ulbirch’s Kid Should Face Some Consequences for Shedeur Sanders Prank Call
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Former Colorado Buffaloes player Shedeur Sanders during his number retirement ceremony before the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Former Colorado superstar quarterback and NFL Draft survivor Shedeur Sanders had to deal with a pretty public prank call during his dramatic slide this weekend. Sanders, who was projected to be a mid-to-late first-round draft pick, fell into Day 2, where he still wasn’t selected. On Friday evening, during a livestream, Sanders was prank called in a viral video that was clipped and widely shared on social media. For whatever reason, the prank callers elected to share a video of their stunt online. It took internet sleuths all of five minutes to identify one of the individuals in the video as Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive […]
Bucks star Damian Lillard leaves Game 4 with leg injury, will not return
Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard left Sunday night’s NBA playoff game against the Indiana Pacers with a lower leg injury and will not return.With 6:11 left in the first quarter, Gary Trent Jr. missed a 3 from the right wing. The long rebound bounced off the floor near the top of the key, and Lillard made a break for it. As he broke back towards the ball, his legs went out from underneath him. Lillard managed to tap the ball to Trent for an offensive rebound, but immediately crumpled to the floor.AdvertisementAs he lay on his back, Lillard reached for his left foot with both arms and then sat on the other end of the floor as the Bucks committed a foul to get a stoppage in play. Once that stoppage occurred, Kyle Kuzma and Doc Rivers made their way […]
Damian Lillard won’t return after leaving Bucks-Pacers Game 4 with leg injury
<!--> Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard has left Game 4 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers after hurting his lower left leg in the first quarter.Lillard was helped off the floor and into the locker room after suffering the non-contact injury. The Bucks announced he won't return to the game. There is fear that Lillard suffered a torn Achilles, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.The seven-time all-NBA player was behind the 3-point line when the ball bounced toward him. Lillard used his left hand to tip the ball toward teammate Gary Trent Jr., then went down and grabbed the lower part of his left leg, around his ankle. He continued to sit on the floor as play resumed on the other end of the court.ADVERTISEMENT -->After a foul stopped play, Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma helped Lillard […]
Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin among those feeling helpless after Talladega
Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider <!--> TALLADEGA, Ala. — The races at Talladega Superspeedway typically end with dicey moves that result in big blocks and wrecks — or near wrecks.None of that happened on Sunday, as drivers out front stayed in a two-by-two formation all the way to the finish line. It’s not like none of the drivers who crossed the finish line after winner Austin Cindric weren’t prepared to make the moves. They just could never push their way into position.Did Ryan Preece (who crossed the line second but ended up disqualified following technical inspection), Kyle Larson (second) or William Byron (third) let a potential win slip away? ADVERTISEMENT -->It didn’t appear so.Larson, pushing Cindric in the inside lane, never pushed Cindric far enough ahead of Preece (on the outside) where Larson could then cut in front of Byron. Byron couldn’t […]
Phillies get two in 10th, win series from Cubs
Apr 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Trea Turner went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Aaron Nola threw seven solid innings as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in 10 innings on Sunday. Nola allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven. Jose Alvarado (3-0) struck out one in a clean ninth inning to earn the win, and Jordan Romano did the same in the 10th for his second save of the season. The Phillies took the final two games of the three-game series. Cubs reliever Julian Merryweather (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit in two-thirds of one inning. Starter Jameson Taillon gave up one […]
Related
Bucks star G Damian Lillard injures left leg, out vs. Pacers in Game 4
Apr 25, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after making a basket against the Indiana Pacers in the second half during game three of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard exited Sunday night's home playoff game against the Indiana Pacers with a potentially serious lower left leg injury. Lillard was hurt while seeking a long offensive rebound and he fell to the floor while tapping the ball forward shortly before the midway point of the first quarter. He immediately grabbed for his lower left leg and was unable to get up. Milwaukee's Brook Lopez committed a foul with 5:57 left in the quarter to stop play and trainers then attended to Lillard. He eventually was helped off the court while […]
Jeff Ulbirch’s Kid Should Face Some Consequences for Shedeur Sanders Prank Call
Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Former Colorado Buffaloes player Shedeur Sanders during his number retirement ceremony before the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Former Colorado superstar quarterback and NFL Draft survivor Shedeur Sanders had to deal with a pretty public prank call during his dramatic slide this weekend. Sanders, who was projected to be a mid-to-late first-round draft pick, fell into Day 2, where he still wasn’t selected. On Friday evening, during a livestream, Sanders was prank called in a viral video that was clipped and widely shared on social media. For whatever reason, the prank callers elected to share a video of their stunt online. It took internet sleuths all of five minutes to identify one of the individuals in the video as Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons defensive […]
Bucks star Damian Lillard leaves Game 4 with leg injury, will not return
Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard left Sunday night’s NBA playoff game against the Indiana Pacers with a lower leg injury and will not return.With 6:11 left in the first quarter, Gary Trent Jr. missed a 3 from the right wing. The long rebound bounced off the floor near the top of the key, and Lillard made a break for it. As he broke back towards the ball, his legs went out from underneath him. Lillard managed to tap the ball to Trent for an offensive rebound, but immediately crumpled to the floor.AdvertisementAs he lay on his back, Lillard reached for his left foot with both arms and then sat on the other end of the floor as the Bucks committed a foul to get a stoppage in play. Once that stoppage occurred, Kyle Kuzma and Doc Rivers made their way […]
Damian Lillard won’t return after leaving Bucks-Pacers Game 4 with leg injury
<!--> Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard has left Game 4 of an Eastern Conference first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers after hurting his lower left leg in the first quarter.Lillard was helped off the floor and into the locker room after suffering the non-contact injury. The Bucks announced he won't return to the game. There is fear that Lillard suffered a torn Achilles, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.The seven-time all-NBA player was behind the 3-point line when the ball bounced toward him. Lillard used his left hand to tip the ball toward teammate Gary Trent Jr., then went down and grabbed the lower part of his left leg, around his ankle. He continued to sit on the floor as play resumed on the other end of the court.ADVERTISEMENT -->After a foul stopped play, Milwaukee’s Kyle Kuzma helped Lillard […]
Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin among those feeling helpless after Talladega
Bob Pockrass FOX Motorsports Insider <!--> TALLADEGA, Ala. — The races at Talladega Superspeedway typically end with dicey moves that result in big blocks and wrecks — or near wrecks.None of that happened on Sunday, as drivers out front stayed in a two-by-two formation all the way to the finish line. It’s not like none of the drivers who crossed the finish line after winner Austin Cindric weren’t prepared to make the moves. They just could never push their way into position.Did Ryan Preece (who crossed the line second but ended up disqualified following technical inspection), Kyle Larson (second) or William Byron (third) let a potential win slip away? ADVERTISEMENT -->It didn’t appear so.Larson, pushing Cindric in the inside lane, never pushed Cindric far enough ahead of Preece (on the outside) where Larson could then cut in front of Byron. Byron couldn’t […]
Phillies get two in 10th, win series from Cubs
Apr 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) throws the ball against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Trea Turner went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and Aaron Nola threw seven solid innings as the visiting Philadelphia Phillies defeated the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in 10 innings on Sunday. Nola allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out seven. Jose Alvarado (3-0) struck out one in a clean ninth inning to earn the win, and Jordan Romano did the same in the 10th for his second save of the season. The Phillies took the final two games of the three-game series. Cubs reliever Julian Merryweather (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on one hit in two-thirds of one inning. Starter Jameson Taillon gave up one […]
Be the first to leave a comment