On Friday night, the Los Angeles Dodgers will open up a series with Mike Trout and the Angels (at Angel Stadium).
Shohei Ohtani has had a slow start to the year as a hitter, but he still remains one of the elite pitchers in all of baseball.
During their series with the San Francisco Giants (on May 13), Ohtani went 7.0 innings (and allowed just four hits with no runs).
Paul Skenes Makes Honest Statement About Ohtani
GettyShohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to a pitch during the third inning against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 13, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Recently, Pittsburgh Pirates star Paul Skenes did an interview with ESPN’s Pat McAfee.
He made an honest statement about Ohtani.
Skenes: “I would say pitching is probably as good as it’s ever been and it will probably only continue to get better… Shohei, he makes me really glad I’m not a hitter anymore. I don’t want to face guys like him.”
Shohei Ohtani makes me really glad I’m not a hitter anymore” ~ @Paul_Skenes #PMSLive
Ohtani is currently 3-2 with an 0.82 ERA in his first seven games of the 2026 season.
There is good reason to believe he could win his first Cy Young Award.
Eric Cross of RotoBaller wrote: “I’ve seen a lot of talk about how Shohei Ohtani is having a down season offensively (for him). But not enough talk about how he has a 0.82 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and a 22.8% K-BB rate in 44 IP this season.”
GettyShohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts in the dugout during the game against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium on May 14, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Ohtani has helped lead the Dodgers to the World Series Championship in each of his first two seasons with the franchise.
They are looking to become the first MLB team to win three straight titles since Derek Jeter’s New York Yankees.
Dodgers Right Now
GettyShohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers walks to the dugout during the third inning against the Philadelphia Phillies in game four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
The Dodgers have had an up-and-down start to the 2026 season, but they are still the top team in the National League West with a 26-18 record in 44 games.
They are 5-5 over their last ten games (and 11-8 in the 19 games they have played on the road).
Following the Angels, the Dodgers will visit the San Diego Padres on Monday.
Paul Skenes Makes Honest Statement About Dodgers Star Shohei Ohtani