Will Shohei Ohtani pitch vs. Royals this weekend? Here’s how he’s fared vs. KC
Shohei Ohtani will make his long-awaited return to Kauffman Stadium this weekend. And there is a strong chance he could pitch as well.
The Los Angeles Dodgers roll into town on Friday. They will begin a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals to conclude a weeklong homestand.
It will be the Dodgers’ first trip to The K since 2023.
Ohtani is the reigning National League MVP. Last season, he led the league with 54 home runs, 130 RBIs and a 9.2 WAR (wins above replacement).
He reached those numbers while recovering from Tommy John surgery. This season, he is off to a fast start hitting .289 with 27 homers, 51 RBIs and a 1.014 OPS.
Now, Ohtani has stepped back on the mound. He has made two starts while pitching just two innings.
The Dodgers have limited his workload at a gradual rate. Ohtani is likely to pitch on Saturday against the Royals.
“All signs point to Shohei Ohtani’s next pitching assignment being Saturday in KC,” wrote Bill Plunkett, beat reporter for the Orange County Register, on X. “(Manager) Dave Roberts wouldn’t confirm. Said he would keep it ‘open-ended’ for now.”
Ohtani has never pitched at Kauffman Stadium.
He last pitched against the Royals on April 21, 2023. Ohtani, who was with the Los Angeles Angels at the time, tossed seven scoreless innings and recorded 11 strikeouts. Royals trio Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez struck out seven times.
Witt and Pasquantino each logged three strikeouts in the game.
Ohtani now returns with the Dodgers. His last appearance at Kauffman Stadium was June 16-18, 2023. He was 3-for-11 in the series with two home runs and four RBIs. One of those homers landed in the outfield fountains at The K.
In his career, Ohtani is hitting .359 with 11 homers, 29 RBIs and a 1.270 OPS in 27 games against the Royals. As a pitcher, Ohtani has allowed one earned run, eight hits and logged 28 strikeouts in 19 innings facing Kansas City.
