Shohei Ohtani's Cy Young Award hopes dashed? US media slams probability as zero, Dodgers' rotation strategy blamed for holding him back

Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is facing tough hurdles in his quest for his first Cy Young Award. His on-field pitching numbers have been inconsistent, and American media outlets have criticized the Dodgers' management of his pitching workload, calling it a major hindrance to his candidacy.

In his recent start against the Tampa Bay Rays, Ohtani gave up four runs in a single inning, raising his ERA to 1.47. This marked his second consecutive start allowing four runs, following a similar outing against the Pittsburgh Pirates, causing alarm bells to ring for what had seemed like a steady Cy Young campaign.

The National League Cy Young race has turned into a fierce battle among elite pitchers. Milwaukee Brewers flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski has been dominant this year, leading the league in ERA and ranking high in strikeouts, WHIP, and opponent batting average. His recent hot streak makes him the top favorite to pull ahead.

Besides Misiorowski, Phillies lefty Cristopher Sánchez, Pirates ace Paul Skenes, and Braves veteran Chris Sale are also in the mix. In other words, Ohtani isn't competing in an ordinary year for the Cy Young; he's trying to stand out with limited innings during a season when pitchers are collectively excelling.

US media have also offered a harsh assessment, stating that it's extremely difficult for Ohtani to win the Cy Young. The biggest issue isn't his stats or performance, but the Dodgers' usage strategy. To protect Ohtani, the team has him follow a more conservative rotation schedule, not starting every five days like a traditional ace, and rarely allowing him to pitch deep into games. This approach makes sense for the team's championship aspirations, as Ohtani also serves as the lineup's core hitter, and the Dodgers cannot risk overworking him for individual awards. However, it is a fatal flaw for Cy Young voting. Going forward, he must accomplish three things: stay healthy, lower his earned runs again, and deliver more impressive performances in limited innings than all his competitors.