Ohtani Goes Two Innings in Fourth Dodgers Start

Shohei Ohtani made his fourth pitching start of the season for the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 6, his 31st birthday, throwing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts against the Houston Astros. With this outing, Ohtani has now allowed just one run over six innings in four starts, recording a 1.50 ERA as the Dodgers continue to limit his innings following his September 2023 elbow surgery. Manager Dave Roberts reiterated the team's cautious approach and uncertainty about when Ohtani will pitch deeper into games. Ohtani also went 1-for-4 at the plate with a walk, but noted room for improvement offensively on days he pitches. The Dodgers lost the game 6-4 after the bullpen gave up the lead, though they remain atop the NL West. The team continues to monitor the health of other key pitchers as they approach the season's second half.