Ohtani’s Pitching Brilliance Can’t Save His On-Base Streak as Hitless Slump Continues

Shohei Ohtani’s MLB-best on-base streak came to an end at 48 games after he did not make a plate appearance in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 8-2 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers opted to use Ohtani solely as a pitcher that night to manage a bruised right shoulder he sustained when hit by a pitch on Monday. Dalton Rushing took over Ohtani’s designated hitter spot in the lineup, and Kyle Tucker moved to the leadoff position. Ohtani did not bat in the game, which under MLB rules preserves an on-base streak only if no plate appearance occurs.

Despite not hitting, Ohtani delivered a strong performance on the mound, striking out a season-high 10 batters over six innings of one-run work. He allowed just one earned run, ending his personal scoreless streak at 32 2/3 innings. Ohtani hit triple digits four times with his fastball and credited the extra focus on pitching for helping him work through concerns about his shoulder.

“In between innings felt a little longer than normal,” Ohtani said through interpreter Will Ireton. “That was really the only difference that I felt.”

Although his on-base streak ended, it remains the fourth-longest in Dodgers franchise history. Shawn Green holds the club record at 53 games, while Duke Snider’s 58-game streak is the longest in team history. Ohtani’s streak began earlier this season and had tied Ichiro Suzuki for the longest on-base streak by a Japanese-born player in MLB history.

According to OptaSTATS, Ohtani and Babe Ruth are the only players since the earned run became an official statistic in 1913 to achieve both a 30-game-plus on-base streak and a 30-inning-plus streak without allowing an earned run at any point in their careers.

Ohtani is scheduled to resume his two-way duties when the Dodgers open a road series in Colorado on Friday, April 24, 2026, where he will look to start a new on-base streak.