Shohei Ohtani has made many opponents, both on the mound and at the plate, look completely foolish, but the swing-and-miss he took off Jose Altuve Tuesday night in Houston was downright impressive.
After striking out and then grounding out in his first two at-bats against the Dodgers star, the second baseman stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning with baserunners on the corners. Sitting on a 1-2 count, Ohtani hit a sweeper hoping Altuve would chase one away.
And boy, did he chase it.
Los Angeles Dodgers starter Shohei Ohtani pitches during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Center in Toronto on April 8, 2026. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)
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Ohtani’s pitch never came close to the strike zone, but even though the pitch sailed away from him, Altuve stuck out his bat and didn’t come close to making contact.
Ohtani’s pitch would have hit a left-handed batter, and Altuve would have needed a ladder to even come close to reaching it, but he still pulled the trigger.
Houston Astros left fielder Jose Altuve leaves the field during the game against the San Diego Padres at Daikin Park on April 18, 2025. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
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The camera that focuses on Ohtani’s face after earning the strange K is classic. It looked like he was fighting for his life not to start laughing at what he had just witnessed from Altuve.
Altuve finished the contest 0-for-4 at the plate and struck out three times, but his Astros were able to beat Los Angeles 2-1 on the night thanks to four total hits.
Ohtani struck out eight batters in his seven innings of work on the mound, but the two solo home runs he allowed ended up being the difference in the close contest.
Shohei Ohtani greets his Los Angeles Dodgers teammates in the bullpen before Game 7 of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays in Toronto on Nov. 1, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP)
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Tuesday’s loss marks Ohtani’s third straight start in which his Dodgers team finished on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
With a loss to the Astros on Wednesday, the Dodgers will have lost their third straight series.
