Shohei Ohtani gains momentum for Cy Young campaign amid more pitching records
Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images Shohei Ohtani is once again redefining what dominance looks like on the mound, and the numbers are starting to build a serious Cy Young case. In a season where pitching consistency has been hard to come by across the league, Ohtani has quietly put together a stretch that is not just elite, but historically unique. It’s the kind of run that forces voters to take notice, even in a crowded field.
What makes it stand out even more is not just the performance, but how unconventional the results have been along the way. Because while most pitchers chase wins, Ohtani is stacking something far more rare. Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Shohei Ohtani’s historic stretch adds to Cy Young buzz As highlighted by Codify Baseball on X , Ohtani has entered completely new territory.
“Shohei Ohtani just became the first pitcher in MLB history to have a span of 9 regular season starts with: at least 50 total innings pitched, no more than 4 total earned runs allowed, and no more than 2 wins,” the X handle tweeted. The stat captures just how dominant he has been on the mound, even if traditional metrics like wins do not reflect it. Across that stretch, Ohtani has combined elite run prevention with a heavy workload, limiting damage almost every time he takes the ball.
Is Shohei Ohtani now the Cy Young frontrunner? The Cy Young conversation often comes down to a mix of dominance, durability, and narrative, and Ohtani is checking all three boxes. From a performance standpoint, his ERA during this stretch has hovered near historic lows, with advanced metrics like WHIP and opponent batting average backing up the eye test.
Ohtani has received some of the lowest run support among frontline starters this season, which explains why his record does not match his performance. That distinction matters more today than ever. Modern Cy Young voting has moved away from wins as a primary indicator, focusing instead on impact and efficiency.