For the first time in Major League Baseball history, four Japan-born pitchers are projected to start on the same day around the league.
Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani is listed as the probable starter for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who face the San Francisco Giants at 4:50 p.m. EDT at Oracle Park in San Francisco. The start would be Ohtani’s fifth since returning to pitching after undergoing Tommy John surgery for the second time in September 2023. In his first four starts back, Ohtani has thrown one or two innings, with his longest outing being a two-inning, 31-pitch start against Houston on July 5. In six innings of work this season, Ohtani has a 1.50 ERA and six strikeouts.
When the Washington Nationals face the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field in Milwaukee at 4:10 p.m. EDT, Shinnosuke Ogasawara will be on the mound for the ‘Nats, making his second career MLB start. In his MLB debut on July 6, Ogasawara lasted 2 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits, striking out two. The 27-year-old owns a career ERA of 3.62 over 961 1/3 innings in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chunichi Dragons before he signed with Washington after the 2024 season.
Veteran start Yu Darvish will take the mound for the San Diego Padres when they host the Philadelphia Phillies at Petco Park at 7:35 p.m. EDT. He’s making his second start of the season after dealing with right elbow inflammation at the start of the year. His only work of the season thus far came on July 7, when he threw 3 2/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, striking out five.
Yusei Kikuchi will start for the Los Angeles Angels when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks at 9:35 p.m. EDT Saturday. Kikuchi has a 3.02 ERA and a 1.379 WHIP in 107 1/3 innings of work this season, with 110 strikeouts against just 48 walks.
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