Shohei Ohtani has started strong this season with the Dodgers, but MLB insider Jeff Passan believes he won't win the NL Cy Young award due to insufficient innings pitched.
Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar is off to a blistering start on the mound, but ESPNâs Jeff Passan doesnât think itâs enough to challenge for the NL Cy Young award this season.
Ohtani has made four starts this season, pitching a total of 24 innings. Only two runs have crossed the plate under his watch this season, one of which went down as unearned, and he has 25 strikeouts during that stretch.
The right-hander currently doesnât qualify for category leadership due to a lack of inningsâ24 innings pitched in 28 gamesâbut would lead the National League in ERA and rank second in MLB in the same stat. He doesnât have enough innings to qualify due to the Dodgersâ unorthodox six-man rotation, and Passan believes that will be his downfall.
âThird behind Skenes and Chase Burns,â Passan said of where Ohtani would place in the NL Cy Young race. âBecause he will not throw nearly as many innings as pitchers in five-man rotations, Ohtani is always operating from behind when it comes to winning pitching-only awards. Unless his peripherals are so overwhelmingly better than everyone elseâs in the NL, innings pitched should be rewarded for their rarity, and thatâs a category in which Ohtani will struggle.â
Ohtani won't win the Cy Young award because he doesn't have enough innings pitched to qualify, as he has only thrown 24 innings this season.
Shohei Ohtani has recorded 25 strikeouts in his four starts this season.
Ohtani currently has an ERA that would lead the National League, but he lacks the innings to officially qualify for the leaderboard.
Ohtani's limited innings are due to the Dodgers' use of an unorthodox six-man rotation.
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Apr 8, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) reacts after a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Ohtani has pitched in seven seasons, eclipsing 100 innings pitched on three occasionsâall of which came when he played for the Los Angeles Angels. Of those seasons, only one surpassed 150 innings pitched.
He placed fourth in Cy Young voting that year with some fantastic numbers, posting a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts in just 166 innings.
The three players to finish ahead of him in voting were all-time great Justin Verlander, strikeout machine Dylan Cease and former All-Star Alek Manoah.
Ohtani had great numbers that season, but happened to run into multiple fantastic seasons from some of the gameâs best at the time. If things keep going the way they are, he could be in a similar situation in 2026.
The aforementioned Skenes has been a Cy Young-caliber pitcher since his promotion to the bigs in 2024, and this year isnât any different. After a rough Opening Day outing where his defense cost him several runs and he didnât make it out of the first inning, Skenes has been nearly perfect with a 0.95 ERA through 28.1 innings pitched.
Chris Saleâwho won the Cy Young in 2024âcurrently tops FanGraphsâ Cy Young projections, and has a 2.31 ERA through 25 innings pitched.
Mason Miller has also made a dark horse case for himself in San Diego, as heâs a perfect 10-for-10 on save opportunities and is yet to allow a run with a 61.4% strikeout rate. Heâs the only player in MLB with a negative FIP this season, meaning his defense could be significantly worse and heâd still have a 0.00 ERA.
Ohtani is also shoving on the mound this season, though, and could very well bring home the award for the first time if he an continue posting zeroes and pitch deeper into games.
His next pitching appearance will come against the Miami Marlins on Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. PT.
What do you think Shohei Ohtaniâs chances of winning the NL Cy Young is?