Shohei Ohtani will return to Angel Stadium for the first time in the regular season after leaving the team in the offseason to join the Los Angeles Dodgers, who begin a two-game series against the Angels on Tuesday in Anaheim, California.
Ohtani, who played at Angel Stadium for the Dodgers (83-55) in a spring training game in March, spent six seasons with the Angels (57-80) from 2018-23, winning the American League Rookie of the Year Award, two MVPs, and three All-Star selections.
However, he is on his way to accomplishing something he has never done with the Angels and has never done before in big league history.
With three more stolen bases in the Dodgers’ 11-6 victory against the Diamondbacks on Monday, Ohtani, who now has 44 home runs and 46 stolen bases, may become the sport’s first 50-50 player.
“I think the most important thing is to be able to contribute to winning the game,” Ohtani said through an interpreter. “Obviously, the closer I go to 50-50, the more I contribute to the team’s success. So if that is the case, I am content.”
He is already the first player with at least 44 home runs and 44 steals. Alex Rodriguez came closest in 1998, when he hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases for the Mariners.
“He’s incredible,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remarked. “I’m not sure what more to say. I don’t have any more superlatives for Shohei. “He is incredible.”
Ohtani has already set a career high in stolen bases, having previously reached 26 in 2021, when he earned his first MVP. That same year, he blasted a career-high 46 home runs.
Ohtani has hit.277 in 351 career games at Angel Stadium, including 99 of his 215 career home runs, and has an OPS of.954.
Right-hander Walker Buehler (1-4, 5.88 ERA) will make his 12th start of the season for the Dodgers. He is coming off a no-decision in his previous start, where he gave up four runs (two earned) and five hits in 4 2/3 innings against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday.
Buehler has made three career starts against the Angels, going 1-0 with a 4.02 ERA.
Reid Detmers (3-6, 6.14) will make his 13th start for the Angels, but his first since June 1, when he was demoted to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Detmers did not fare much better for Salt Lake, going 6-6 with a 5.54 ERA across 14 starts. However, he has improved recently, posting a 1.29 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 21 innings over his last three appearances.
“We’re glad he’s throwing the ball well, and we just want him to come up and be Detmers,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “We are not hoping for anything spectacular from him. We want him to come up here and do what we expect from all of our pitchers: go as long into the game as possible and give us a chance to win. That is all we are searching for. “And he earned his way back.”
Detmers has four career starts versus the Dodgers, going 0-3 with a 7.58 ERA.
