Shohei Ohtani is showing his dominance on the mound as October baseball nears

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani fields the ball hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Alek Thomas in the third inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

PHOENIX (AP) — Shohei Ohtani is looking like a formidable force on the mound as October baseball approaches.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star had his third straight scoreless outing on Tuesday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks, throwing a season-high six innings and striking out eight.

The right-hander's fastball was consistently in the 98-100 mph range, hitting 101.2 on one delivery and often overpowering the D-backs hitters. He gave up five hits, all singles. He also started an athletic double play to end the fifth, darting off the mound to field a soft grounder from James McCann and firing to Tommy Edman at second, who threw to first.

The 31-year-old Ohtani has slowly built up his pitch count as he returns from elbow surgery that kept him off the mound for the entire 2024 season. He threw a season-high 91 pitches in his 100th career big league mound start.

The Dodgers led 4-0 in the seventh inning. Ohtani, who has 53 homers this season, batted leadoff and went 0 for 3 with a walk in his first four plate appearances.

Ohtani worked five hitless innings in his last start, on Sept. 16 against the Philadelphia Phillies.

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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani reacts after hitting a foul ball against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)