LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani got started on his bid to win a Cy Young Award — just about the only major prize to elude him — with six shutout innings for the Los Angeles Dodgers in his first outing on the mound this season.

At the plate, the two-way superstar went 1 for 3 with two walks and a strikeout Tuesday night in a rainy 4-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

The Dodgers have been waiting to see a full-time, two-way version of Ohtani since he joined them on a $700 million, 10-year deal before the 2024 season. He didn't pitch that year while recovering from a second major elbow surgery in September 2023 while with the Los Angeles Angels.

Last season, the team took a methodical approach to his return to the mound. Ohtani was 1-1 with a 2.87 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 47 innings over 14 starts. His fastball averaged a career-high 98.4 mph.

“Last year, I felt good,” Ohtani said through a translator. “But this year I do feel a lot more loose and easy pitching overall. Looking back at today’s outing specifically, that wasn’t necessarily the case. So that’s something I want to work on. But compared to last season I felt more loose and easy.”

Ohtani was limited to two spring training starts for the Dodgers because he played — but didn't pitch — for Japan in the World Baseball Classic.

Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts has noticed Ohtani is more critical of himself as a pitcher than a hitter.

“He’s never going to be satisfied,” Roberts said. “There’s always something that he can improve on or get better at and that’s what fuels him.”

Ohtani has thrown 22 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in the regular season, dating to Aug. 27, 2025, against Cincinnati — the longest shutout streak of his career. He bettered his previous high of 21 2/3 innings set in June 2022 with the Angels.

“If he’s able to do it the whole year, that’s just a huge boost to our pitching staff,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “I expect nothing short of almost a Cy Young out of him.”

Almost?

“I think he’s got enough pressure already,” Muncy said, “but it doesn’t seem to faze him at all.”

The only hit Ohtani allowed was a two-out double by Rhys Hoskins in the fourth. The right-hander struck out six and walked three.

He was even successful on his first ABS challenge.

Ohtani retired his first seven batters before walking Gabriel Arias in the third. With two outs, he walked Steven Kwan to put runners on first and second. Ohtani had a 1-1 count on CJ Kayfus when he challenged a ball call. It was overturned, putting Ohtani ahead 1-2 in the count, and he got Kayfus on a swinging strike with his next pitch to end the third.

Heavy drizzle picked up over Ohtani's last couple of innings. The grounds crew groomed the front slope of the mound, specifically his landing spot, after he issued his third walk with two outs in the sixth. He used a metal tool to dislodge dirt from the bottom of his spikes. Ohtani then retired Hoskins with one pitch to end the inning.

“He's unflappable,” Roberts said.

Offensively, Ohtani has yet to break out in his first five games. The four-time MVP is batting .167 with no home runs and no RBIs. He had 55 homers in 2025.

He extended his on-base streak to 36 games, tying the longest of his career.

“I’ve been able to get on base and that’s a good thing,” Ohtani said. “But on pitches that I should be making impact I’m not quite able to do that to the extent that I should be able to. That’s the part that I’m not quite happy about.”

Observing Ohtani's work habits on a daily basis has convinced Muncy that his first love is pitching.

“He's really bought into everything with pitching — his mechanics, how to attack hitters. He just focuses on it so much. You can really, really tell he loves it,” Muncy said.

Roberts said Ohtani will get six days' rest before his next start.

“I believe the team should be prioritizing Yoshinobu (Yamamoto), (Tyler) Glasnow and (Blake) Snell when he’s back,” Ohtani said. “So I think it’s easy to kind of fit me into that schedule whenever the team feels that’s a good thing. What’s most important is that we’re all healthy in October.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A nervous Roki Sasaki took the mound in his season debut, knowing he needed to prove something to himself and the Los Angeles Dodgers after a shaky spring.

The right-hander allowed one run and four hits over four innings of a 4-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night. Sasaki struck out four and walked two in his first major league start since May 9.

He walked 15 batters during spring training, raising concerns about his ability to perform as a starter.

"I actually didn’t have the confidence at all when this game started,” Sasaki said through a translator, “but I was just focusing on doing what I can control.”

José Ramírez, Cleveland's best hitter, singled in the first inning before Sasaki got him on a swinging strikeout in the third with runners on first and second and the Dodgers trailing 1-0.

“It should be a big boost to his confidence,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “He’s a confident player, but when you don’t have success, it’s hard to have real confidence. But when you perform, you start to build true confidence, so hopefully he can build on this one.”

Roberts detected Sasaki's self-doubt in the first inning, when the 24-year-old pitcher got two quick outs before Ramírez singled and stole second.

“It was a wait-and-see kind of demeanor in the sense of you know what you’re supposed to do, know what you want to do, and until you actually do it, holding your breath a little bit,” the manager said. “Once he got out of that inning he was like, ‘OK, I can do this,’ and then wanted to go out there and keep doing it.”

Dalton Rushing, the 25-year-old backup to catcher Will Smith, called the game behind the plate while Smith got the night off.

Rushing used the time walking in from the bullpen with Sasaki to pump him up.

“I told him it was just me and him, just kind of tunnel vision to an extent and trust what you do,” Rushing said. “You were a really good pitcher for a long time in Japan for a reason. You’ve been a great pitcher for us last year down the stretch."

Sasaki was supposed to be the next big thing coming out of Nippon Professional Baseball. He signed with the Dodgers in January 2025, but by mid-May he was on the injured list with a right shoulder impingement.

After a long rehab assignment in the minors, he rejoined the Dodgers in late September as a reliever. He made eight starts and two relief appearances overall, going 1-1 with a 4.46 ERA, 28 strikeouts and 22 walks.

His best moments as a rookie came out of the bullpen. He earned his first professional save closing out the first game of the National League Division Series against Philadelphia. He pitched in three games in the series, earning two saves and then working three perfect innings in relief in the clinching fourth game.

In the World Series against Toronto, Sasaki pitched 2 2/3 innings over two games, and Los Angeles went on to win in seven games.

Sasaki remains intent on making it as a starter, and the Dodgers are giving him the chance to find himself again.

“The goal is to keep going deeper in games,” Roberts said. “I know he was a little bit nervous going into this start about what to expect. He responded well.”

Rushing called it “a very big step forward” for Sasaki.

“We’re going to build off this,” the catcher said. “We’re going to sit down and talk, see what we could have done better, refine some things and look forward to having him out there next time.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Parker Messick tossed six scoreless innings and the Cleveland Guardians broke the game open with three runs in the seventh inning to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Monday, spoiling the two-time World Series champions' perfect start.

The Dodgers were 3-0 after rallying in every game of their opening series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. They nearly pulled it off again, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth off closer Cade Smith, who had two wild pitches.

But their offense mostly went cold, with Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman combining to go 3-for-16.

Betts' RBI double and Freeman's RBI groundout in the ninth were the Dodgers' only runs.

Messick (1-0) allowed five runs and struck out five.

The Guardians led 1-0 on Steven Kwan's RBI double in the right field corner off Roki Sasaki, the first of three consecutive Japanese starters scheduled for the Dodgers in the series.

Sasaki (0-1) got pulled after giving up a leadoff single to Angel Martinez in the fifth. The 24-year-old right-hander struggled to find the strike zone in his first start since May 9. Sasaki allowed one run and four hits in four innings, struck out four and walked two.

The Guardians extended their lead to 4-0 in the seventh. Justin Wrobleski loaded the bases on consecutive singles to Austin Hedges, Martinez and Kwan. After two outs, pinch-hitter Rhys Hoskins fell behind 0-2 before Wrobleski missed with a slider, walking Hoskins and forcing in Hedges.

It was the first run allowed by the Dodgers' bullpen to start the season.

Daniel Schneemann followed with a two-run double.

Third baseman José Ramírez went 1 for 5 playing in his 1,614th game for Cleveland, tying Nap Lajoie for second all-time. Ramírez could potentially overtake Terry Turner, who played in 1,619 games, this weekend at home.

Up next

Cleveland's RHP Tanner Bibee (0-0, 5.40 ERA) starts Tuesday against RHP Shohei Ohtani (1-1, 2.87), who makes his season debut on the mound.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Will Smith hit a go-ahead, two-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning Saturday on his 31st birthday, lifting the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks and a season-opening three-game sweep.

Smith began his bobblehead night going 0-for-3. After Mookie Betts walked, Smith sent a 2-2 pitch from reliever Juan Morillo (0-1) over the wall in centerfield, giving the Dodgers a 3-2 lead.

Edwin Diaz retired the side on three consecutive flyballs in the ninth to earn his second consecutive save. He again trotted out to trumpeter Tatiana Tate blaring his entrance music “Narco” from the left field stands near the bullpen. Fans were on their feet bopping along.

Will Klein (0-1) got the win in relief, allowing a run and striking out one in the eighth.

Dodgers starter Tyler Glasnow gave up two runs and four hits in six innings and struck out six in his season debut.

The D-backs failed to make an early 2-0 lead hold up for the third straight game. They lost 8-2 on Thursday and 5-4 on Friday.

This time, Pavin Smith had a two-out RBI single in the first and Corbin Carroll’s sacrifice fly to center scored Jorge Barrosa, who doubled leading off the third for Arizona.

Arizona starter Eduardo Rodriguez gave up a run and four hits in five innings with five strikeouts. He started for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic final against the U.S., allowing no earned runs in 4 1/3 innings to help win the gold medal.

Freddie Freeman went 3 for 4, ending an 0-for-8 skid to start the season. He doubled down the left field line in the sixth, scoring Kyle Tucker, who reached on an error by first baseman Carlos Santana.

Up next

D-backs: After an off day, RHP Michael Soroka (3-8, 4.52 ERA) makes his franchise debut in the home opener Monday against Detroit and RHP Justin Verlander.

Dodgers: RHP Roki Sasaki (1-1, 4.46) makes his season debut Monday against Cleveland and LHP Parker Messick.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kyle Tucker singled in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, lifting the Dodgers over the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4 on Friday night after Los Angeles players received their World Series rings.

Edwin Diaz earned his first save in his Dodgers debut.

Tucker, who joined the team on a $240 million deal in the offseason, contributed for the second straight game. He had his first hit and first RBI in an 8-2 comeback win in the season opener.

Alex Freeland, whose home run gave the Dodgers their first lead in the third, doubled off Kevin Ginkel (0-1). He moved to third on Shohei Ohtani's groundout to second and scored on Tucker's hit to right field.

Diaz had fans on their feet as the former New York Mets reliever entered to Timmy Trumpet's “Narcos.” A trumpeter wearing a Dodgers jersey tooted away. Diaz converted 28 of 31 save chances last season before the Dodgers lured him away with a $69 million, three-year deal.

Diaz erased Carlos Santana on a swinging strikeout. He walked Alek Thomas, who stole second. Jordan Lawler took a called third strike and Diaz retired Ketel Marte on a groundout to shortstop to end it.

Edgardo Henriquez (1-0) got the win in relief, striking out Nolan Arenado in the eighth inning. Arenado struck out four times total.

The Dodgers took a 4-2 lead on Mookie Betts' three-run homer and Freeland's solo shot off Ryne Nelson in the third.

The D-backs led 2-0 on Marte's homer in the second and Thomas' RBI double in the first off Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan.

Up next

Arizona LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-9, 5.02 ERA) starts Saturday's series finale against RHP Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.19).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andy Pages hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the fifth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2 on Thursday, opening the season with a victory in pursuit of their third consecutive World Series championship.

Three of the Dodgers' first four hits in the fifth off Zac Gallen came with two strikes. Max Muncy singled, Teoscar Hernández reached on an infield single to Gallen, Pages' homer traveled 400 feet and Miguel Rojas singled. Shohei Ohtani drew a walk to chase Gallen, who began the game with four shutout innings and a 2-0 lead.

Juan Morillo came on and got two quick outs. But he walked Freddie Freeman and gave up an infield single to Will Smith. First baseman Carlos Santana dived toward the foul line and stopped the ball before bobbling it, allowing Rojas to score from third and extend the Dodgers' lead to 4-2.

Pages made a sparkling defensive play in center leading off the seventh. He chased a fly ball from Geraldo Perdomo, diving and landing on his belly to make the catch.

The Dodgers tacked on four more runs in the seventh off reliever Taylor Clarke. Kyle Tucker got his first hit and first RBI in his debut. The $240 million right fielder doubled in Ohtani, who was hit by Clarke, and then scored on Mookie Betts' single. Smith had a two-run homer, making it 8-2.

Arizona led 2-0 on Perdomo's two-run homer off World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (1-0) in the fourth. Corbin Carroll singled leading off and Perdomo followed with a two-strike shot.

Yamamoto allowed two runs and five hits in six innings while striking out six.

Gallen (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Ohtani in the first and a one-out walk to Muncy in the second. The Dodgers didn’t have another runner until the fifth. Gallen allowed four runs and four hits in four innings, struck out two and walked two.

Up next

D-backs RHP Ryne Nelson (7-3, 3.39 ERA) starts the middle game of the series Friday against Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (6-3, 2.82).

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The field at Dodger Stadium has a sponsor name for the first time in the history of the third-oldest ballpark in the major leagues.

Uniqlo Field was unveiled Wednesday on the eve of the Los Angeles Dodgers opening their bid for a third straight World Series championship. They begin the season Thursday by hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks in the start of a three-game series.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the star of World Series Game 7, starts for the Dodgers. He is among three Japanese stars on the team, along with Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki.

“Every one of us has become fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers because of the outstanding performances of Japanese players,” company founder Tadashi Lanai said through a translator.

Uniqlo is a Japan-based apparel retailer with over 2,400 stores, including a strong presence in its home country, Asia, Europe and Canada. It has nearly 80 U.S. stores, primarily in malls, with aggressive expansion plans.

It's the first major sports sponsorship for Uniqlo in the U.S., and took nearly a year to negotiate, according to Koji Lanai, senior executive officer for Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo. He is the son of Tadashi Lanai, known as Japan's richest man with a net worth of nearly $62 billion.

The deal places Uniqlo's red-and-white signage in various locations around the stadium, including the batter's eye in center field, on the facade beneath the press box and on the grass along the baselines.

“I hope in the near future fans will like it and love it,” Koji Lanai said.

A Japanese reporter asked whether a batter would get anything for hitting the sign in center field. The Dodgers famously at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn had a sign under the scoreboard on the right-center field wall from 1931-57 that read: “Hit sign, win suit.” The ad was placed by Abe Stark, a clothing store owner who went on to become Brooklyn Borough President.

“It's a very good idea I was just given,” Koji Lanai said through a translator.

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten added, “We like that idea, too.”

Tadashi Lanai said providing Dodgers players with clothing is “not that easy” because of conflicting sponsorship deals. “But probably we can provide them with everyday clothing,” he said through a translator.

Kasten piped up, saying, “We pay them enough to shop at Uniqlo stores.”

Dodgers fans are used to seeing the names of Japanese sponsors like Tokyo Electron, All Nippon Airways and Yakult in the outfield. The team has catered to Asian fans in particular since the arrival of Ohtani before the 2024 season.

“I've been thrilled with the reaction I got from fans,” Kasten said.

The Dodgers presented Tadashi Lanai with a home plate signed by the players in what Kasten called a symbol of the retailer's new home.

Among the retailer's plans at the stadium, which opened in 1962, is a special corner inside team apparel stores and a June 21 event in which fans will receive an item of LifeWear clothing. A social contribution program launches in late May.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The field at Dodger Stadium has a sponsor name for the first time in the history of the third-oldest ballpark in the major leagues.

Uniqlo Field was unveiled Wednesday on the eve of the Los Angeles Dodgers opening their bid for a third straight World Series championship. They begin the season Thursday by hosting the Arizona Diamondbacks in the start of a three-game series.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the star of World Series Game 7, starts for the Dodgers. He is among three Japanese stars on the team, along with Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki.

“Every one of us has become fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers because of the outstanding performances of Japanese players,” company founder Tadashi Lanai said through a translator.

Uniqlo is a Japan-based apparel retailer with over 2,400 stores, including a strong presence in its home country, Asia, Europe and Canada. It has nearly 80 U.S. stores, primarily in malls, with aggressive expansion plans.

It's the first major sports sponsorship for Uniqlo in the U.S., and took nearly a year to negotiate, according to Koji Lanai, senior executive officer for Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo. He is the son of Tadashi Lanai, known as Japan's richest man with a net worth of nearly $62 billion.

The deal places Uniqlo's red-and-white signage in various locations around the stadium, including the batter's eye in center field, on the facade beneath the press box and on the grass along the baselines.

“I hope in the near future fans will like it and love it,” Koji Lanai said.

A Japanese reporter asked whether a batter would get anything for hitting the sign in center field. The Dodgers famously at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn had a sign under the scoreboard on the right-center field wall from 1931-57 that read: “Hit sign, win suit.” The ad was placed by Abe Stark, a clothing store owner who went on to become Brooklyn Borough President.

“It's a very good idea I was just given,” Koji Lanai said through a translator.

Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten added, “We like that idea, too.”

Tadashi Lanai said providing Dodgers players with clothing is “not that easy” because of conflicting sponsorship deals. “But probably we can provide them with everyday clothing,” he said through a translator.

Kasten piped up, saying, “We pay them enough to shop at Uniqlo stores.”

Dodgers fans are used to seeing the names of Japanese sponsors like Tokyo Electron, All Nippon Airways and Yakult in the outfield. The team has catered to Asian fans in particular since the arrival of Ohtani before the 2024 season.

“I've been thrilled with the reaction I got from fans,” Kasten said.

The Dodgers presented Tadashi Lanai with a home plate signed by the players in what Kasten called a symbol of the retailer's new home.

Among the retailer's plans at the stadium, which opened in 1962, is a special corner inside team apparel stores and a June 21 event in which fans will receive an item of LifeWear clothing. A social contribution program launches in late May.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB