Data reveals Shohei Ohtani's biggest vulnerability! US media: Low-swing left-handed pitchers are his kryptonite

This season, Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani set a personal record with 55 home runs and an outstanding wRC+ of 172, leading the National League. However, he has struggled in the Division Series, recording only 1 hit in 18 at-bats. Yet, this may not be due to poor form, but rather Philadelphia's precise exploitation of his hitting weakness.

The American media program MLB Network analyzed that former MLB pitcher Ryan Rowland-Smith believes Ohtani’s poor postseason performance is largely because his opponents have mostly been top-tier left-handers, including Nick Lodolo of the Cincinnati Reds, and Christopher Sanchez, Jesús Luzardo, Ranger Suárez, and Matt Strahm of the Phillies. These pitchers are not only highly skilled but also notably deliver pitches with a generally low arm angle.

Data shared on the show shows that this season, when facing left-handed pitchers with a swing angle above 38 degrees, Ohtani’s batting average is .317, slugging percentage .739, strikeout rate 24.6%, and he hits a home run every 10.5 at-bats on average. But against lefties with a swing angle below 38 degrees, his batting average drops sharply to .221, slugging drops to .308, strikeout rate rises to 34.9%, and he only hits a home run every 34.7 at-bats. These low-arm-angle lefties also precisely target his preferred low inside pitch location.

These statistics expose a potential weakness in Ohtani’s game. Although this flaw only appears against a specific type of left-handed pitcher, it is enough for opponents to strategize accordingly. Another analyst on the show, future USA team manager Mark DeRosa, laughed after seeing the data and said, “We should fill the USA team with lefties who throw with an arm angle below 38 degrees, got it.”

The Dodgers will next face the winner between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series. The Brewers do not have any left-handers with a swing angle below 38 degrees, but Cubs’ main starters Matthew Boyd and Shota Imanaga fall into this category.

Statistics show that Ohtani has 3 hits in 16 plate appearances against Boyd (including 1 home run) and has struck out 4 times; against Imanaga, he has 1 hit in 10 at-bats and has struck out 3 times.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said in an interview that Ohtani’s recent hitting struggles mainly stem from poor performance against left-handed pitchers. He stated, “I think a big part of it lies there. Although he wasn’t particularly strong against lefties during the regular season either, the postseason is tougher. Every team uses lefties to try to contain him. I hope he reflects on whether he’s being too aggressive on pitches outside the strike zone and too cautious on those inside it.”

When asked if the slump was due to his own adjustments or lefty suppression, Roberts added, “I believe it’s mostly about unfavorable matchups. He was fine in the Wild Card Series, but chasing that bad pitch in Game 1 of the Division Series basically set the tone for the entire series.”

Looking ahead, if the Dodgers face the Cubs in the NLCS, Ohtani will again confront a group of low-arm-angle lefties led by Boyd and Imanaga. Overcoming this type of pitcher will be crucial for him to regain his power at the plate.