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The Los Angeles Dodgers will keep Shohei Ohtani from hitting on Tuesday, April 28.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently 21-13, and have a 0.5 game lead on the San Diego Padres in the National League West. Before they begin a three-game set with the Houston Astros on Monday, there was a notable Shohei Ohtani announcement made by Major League Baseball.

Shohei Ohtani has been awarded National League pitcher of the month honors for the months of March/April… because why wouldn’t he earn that award?

GettyShohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after strikeout during the third inning against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium on April 15, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)

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Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani Wins NL Pitcher of the Month

The Shohei Ohtani news was dropped by MLB early on Monday, and it’s the first time Shohei has been awarded Pitcher of the Month in his career, and he’s the first Dodger to win the award since Yoshinobu Yamamoto in September of 2025.

Ohtani went 2-1 with a 0.60 ERA and 0.87 WHIP, while allowing 17 hits and issuing nine walks, 34 strikeouts, and a .160 opponents’ batting average in five starts during the span he was recognized for. He becomes the first Dodgers pitcher since Hyun Jin Ryu to hold a .60 ERA or lower in at least five starts that span a full calendar month.

The three-time MVP Ohtani has his sights set on winning the NL Cy Young to add to his trophy case, and he’s off to a great start with this honor, but it will be interesting to see how Dave Roberts and the Los Angeles coaching staff utilize him going forward in the summer months.

GettyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 30: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after a solo home run during the first inning against the New York Yankees at Dodger Stadium on May 30, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

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More on Shohei Ohtani’s Pitcher of the Month award

DodgerBlue.com writer Matt Borelli highlighted some of the greatness that Ohtani accomplished this month:

“Ohtani additionally is the first pitcher to throw at least six innings in his first five starts of a season while giving up no home runs, fewer than six hits and one earned run or fewer since earned runs became an official statistic in 1913. Ohtani was one of three pitchers to throw at least six innings in each of his first five starts this season, joined by Dodgers teammates Tyler Glasnow and Yamamoto. The Dodgers are the first club to have three pitchers accomplish the feat in the same season since the Cleveland Indians in 2020.”

Borelli also notes the Dodgers are the first team since the Rays in 2018-2019 to earn pitcher of the month honors in the last month of one season, and the first in the season following.

Shohei Ohtani continues to put the MLB world on notice, and his pitching ability shouldn’t be a shock to anyone across the baseball world. His stellar numbers in the first handful fo starts this season

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