Shohei Ohtani delivered a stellar performance in his first start of the 2026 season, pitching six scoreless innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 4-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. The two-way star allowed just one hit, walked three batters, and struck out six while reaching base three times at the plate. Ohtani's outing extended his regular-season scoreless streak to 23 innings dating back to last year.

Ohtani relied heavily on his curveball, throwing it 21 times, while also hitting 99.2 mph with his fastball and generating five whiffs on his splitter. Despite battling rainy conditions, he retired the first seven hitters in order and didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praised Ohtani's composure, calling him "unflappable" after the right-hander navigated a muddy mound situation in the sixth inning.

This performance marks Ohtani's first full two-way season in three years, following his return from elbow surgery last season. The Dodgers believe his experience from last year's comeback will make him even more effective in 2026. Ohtani, who has his sights set on winning the Cy Young Award, showed no signs of rust in his season debut, demonstrating why he's considered one of baseball's most unique talents.