Yashinobu Yamamoto has been a true ace for the Dodgers in 2025, but Ohtani's pitching talent is enough that, when the time comes, he could be a Game 1 starter in a playoff series. If the Dodgers have a tough decision on their hands in that regard come Fall, then Ohtani's return went incredibly well.

Wednesday against the Cardinals, Ohtani pitched four innings, struck out eight, and allowed a run on two third-inning hits that strung together wouldn’t have left the infield: A popup by Jordan Walker that second baseman Miguel Rojas lost in the sun, and a gutsy two-out squeeze bunt by Brendan Donovan that scored Walker from third.