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By Jackson Roberts
Contributing Sports Writer
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Not a lot of starting pitchers secure a World Series ring with a new team before picking up their first win, but most starting pitchers aren't Shohei Ohtani.
After missing the entire season on the mound last year and a chunk of the first half this year, Ohtani has gradually been building up to pitch enough innings to even be eligible for a win as a starter.
In start No. 11 of the year, he finally achieved that milestone. Ohtani threw five innings for the first time since his Tommy John surgery in September 2023, allowing one earned run and striking out nine Cincinnati Reds.
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On the whole, the Dodgers struck out 19 batters, setting a franchise record for a nine-inning game since at least 1901, according to Sarah Wexler of MLB.com.
Five innings was the benchmark, the signal that Ohtani's long build-up process was complete for the year. After the win, Ohtani told reporters that the Dodgers may push him beyond that mark at some point, but there are still conversations to have.
"The fact that I was able to reach five innings was really key in terms of moving forward," Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton, per Wexler. "Moving forward, it's going to be a collaboration between the doctors, the front office and Dave Roberts in terms of how we want to proceed with if we're going to throw more than five."
Over the course of 32 1/3 innings, Ohtani now owns a 4.18 ERA, but a 2.26 FIP. He's struck out 44 batters and walked only seven. Not bad for a guy who also leads the National League in OPS.
Still, it will be critical to monitor Ohtani's workload moving forward, because as he continues to do things players in this generation have never attempted, any risk to his health is stressful for a Dodgers team with dreams of back-to-back championships.
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