Shohei Ohtani wins NL pitcher of month for April

TL;DR

Shohei Ohtani has won his first career pitcher of the month award for April, leading the National League with a 0.60 ERA over 30 innings. He recorded 34 strikeouts and only allowed four runs in five starts for the Dodgers.

Key points

Shohei Ohtani won NL pitcher of the month for April 2026
He had a 0.60 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 30 innings
Ohtani's ERA is third-best in Dodgers history for five starts
Tyler Glasnow was a notable contender for the award
Ohtani has six player of the month honors in his career

Fernando ValenzuelaShohei OhtaniLos Angeles DodgersMiami Marlins

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after throwing a pitch during the MLB game between the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 28, 2026 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani has six player of the month honors in his career, but on Monday he won his first career pitcher of the month award, taking home top National League honors for his excellent mound work in March and April. Ohtani allowed only four total runs, two of them earned in his 30 innings of work, with 34 strikeouts and nine walks to go with his 0.60 ERA and 2.24 xERA in five starts. Among NL pitchers with at least 30 innings, Ohtani led the league in ERA, xERA, and FIP (1.98), and ranked sixth in strikeout rate (28.6 percent) and ninth in strikeout-minus-walk rate (21 percent). In Dodgers history, Ohtani’s 0.60 ERA is , trailing only Fernando Valenzuela in both 1981 (0.20 ERA) and 1985 (0.21 ERA). Ohtani , but only intermittently so as his innings total has at times lagged behind the total number of Dodgers games played. He’s completed exactly six innings in each of his starts thus far, and will need to do so again to qualify for the leaderboard on Tuesday, pitching in the Dodgers’ 36th game of the season, in . Ohtani has won player of the month six times in his career — June 2021, July 2021, June 2023, July 2023 with the Angels; and . was among the other National League pitchers receiving votes for the monthly honor, with his 2.56 ERA, 3.07 xERA and 23.6-percent strikeout-minus-walk rate with 47 strikeouts and 13 walks in 38 2/3 innings over six starts. The Dodgers won two pitcher of the month awards last season, both by , and .

Q&A

What were Shohei Ohtani's statistics for April 2026?

In April 2026, Shohei Ohtani had a 0.60 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and allowed only four runs in 30 innings pitched.

How does Ohtani's April ERA compare in Dodgers history?

Ohtani's 0.60 ERA in April is the third-best in Dodgers history through the end of April in at least five starts, behind Fernando Valenzuela's 0.20 and 0.21 ERAs.

Who were the other contenders for the NL pitcher of the month award?

Tyler Glasnow was another contender, finishing with a 2.56 ERA and 47 strikeouts over 38 2/3 innings.