Shohei Ohtani is Ready for 2026, Says Manager

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani looked solid in his outing Tuesday , and Dave Roberts says he’s ready for the new season. Ohtani made just his second start of the year Tuesday, and didn’t allow a run through his first four innings pitched. He also struck out 11 batters in that stretch, which is more than his season-high total from 2025.

The right-hander had a rough fifth inning, allowing three consecutive singles and a run. He left the game after the first run, but earned three runs in the game as the other baserunners scored after he came out of the game. Despite his rough final inning, the two-way star clearly impressed Roberts in his first two appearances of 2026.

After watching his first two outings of the season, the skipper believes Ohtani is ready to go in the new season. “I found the two outings that we saw him in games … the intensity was there, focus was there, and the execution, all that stuff was there,” Roberts said . “He’s ready to go.

” Roberts continued to describe what stood out to him during Ohtani’s impressive outing. “Today he had his sinker working, he had the curveball working,” Roberts said . “Just [striking] lefties out, righties out with different pitches … shows the confidence he has.