Shohei Ohtani launched his 40th home run of the season Saturday night, powering the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 9-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays at Dodger Stadium.
In the fifth inning, Ohtani sent a Chris Bassitt pitch 417 feet over the center field wall, stretching the Dodgers’ lead to three runs. Manager Dave Roberts praised the swing, noting the adjustments Ohtani and the hitting staff have been working on.
It’s the fourth time Ohtani has reached the 40-homer plateau in his career and the third straight year he’s done it. He joins Jim Thome and Mark McGwire as the only players to record multiple 40-homer seasons in both leagues.
What makes this milestone even more impressive? Ohtani reached it in just 115 games – the fastest pace in Dodgers history.
With 45 games remaining, Roberts said it wouldn’t be surprising to see him hit 50 or even 55 before the season ends. That’s where the real intrigue lies.
The win keeps Los Angeles three games ahead of second-place San Diego in the NL West. The Dodgers improve to 68-49 on the season and will look to sweep Toronto on Sunday before heading to Anaheim to face the Angels starting Monday.
But the bigger test comes next weekend when the Dodgers and Padres meet in what’s shaping up to be a huge NL West series. All things considered, Ohtani’s power surge couldn’t be coming at a better time for LA’s playoff push.
