Mookie Betts Defends Shohei Ohtani Amid Uncharacteristic Slump

Despite ranking as one of the top hitters in the National League so far this season, Los Angeles Dodger superstar Shohei Ohtani has been slightly underperforming at the plate in 2026.

He has slashed .265/.392/.458 with a .850 OPS and just seven home runs in 47 games. After coming off back-to-back seasons hitting 50+ home runs, these statistics are not what fans are used to seeing from the defending NL Most Valuable Player.

Ohtani may not be hitting as well as he normally does. But Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts explained how Ohtani is still dominating the game in other ways.

“If he doesn’t get a hit or it doesn’t maybe have a couple bad games, it’s like what’s wrong with Shohei?” Betts said on a recent episode of “On Base With Mookie Betts”. “Well, I mean he did just go seven innings, you know, two hits. He does have a 0.7 ERA. You forget all the other ways that he really affects the game.”

Betts is correct. On the mound, Ohtani has posted an 0.82 ERA across seven starts this season. He also ranks 21st in the NL with 48 strikeouts in 44 innings.

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell, who was teammates with Ohtani on the Halos from 2020-23, also came to Ohtani’s defense on the podcast episode.

“Think about that. He pitched, he would lead off, work the count just like you would if you were any other position player, and then go out and throw seven innings with three hits and no runs and we expected it. I had to like wake myself,” Adell said. “I’m like, ‘Hey, like this is ridiculous.’ Sitting on the bench, expecting a guy to go and do this in a major league game is insane. His tenacity and focus when it comes to getting it done, he’s been just a force.”

There is still a long season to go, and many more games ahead for Ohtani to get back to Ohtani-form.

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

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