Shohei Ohtani has made many opponents look downright stupid, both on the mound and at the plate, but the swing-and-miss he got from Jose Altuve Tuesday night in Houston was downright breathtaking.
After striking out and then grounding in his first two at-bats against the Dodgers star, the second baseman headed to the plate in the bottom of the fifth inning with base runners on the corners. Sitting on a 1-2 count, Ohtani threw a sweeper in hopes that Altuve would chase one down.
And boy, did he continue.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani pitches during the third inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Center in Toronto on April 8, 2026. (John E. Sokolowski/Imagn Images)
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Ohtani’s pitch never got close to the strike zone, but despite the pitch moving away from him, Altuve got his bat out and didn’t come close to making contact.
Ohtani’s pitch would have hit a left-handed hitter, and Altuve would have needed a ladder to even come close to reaching it, but he pulled the trigger nonetheless.
Houston Astros outfielder 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 focusing on Ohtani’s face after getting the weird K is classic. It looked like he was fighting for his life not to start laughing at what he had just witnessed in Altuve.
Altuve finished the game 0-for-4 at the plate while striking out three times, but his Astros were able to take over 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 homers he gave up ended up being the difference in this 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 November 1, 2025. (Ashley Landis/AP)
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Tuesday’s loss marks Ohtani’s third straight start in which his Dodgers team has ended up on the wrong side of the scoreboard.
With a loss to the Astros on Wednesday, the Dodgers will have lost their third consecutive series.
