Shohei Ohtani is officially back in the lineup for the Los Angeles Dodgers tonight against the Reds, ending a four-game stretch that felt totally flat with their superstar MVP sidelined. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed his return, and believe me, it’s not a moment too soon. But here’s the kicker: even with Ohtani swinging, the challenge tonight is way tougher than anything the Dodgers have faced recently, and it’s all thanks to one arm on the mound for Cincinnati.
Chase Burns Is Dealing, Even If The Reds Aren’t
The Reds might be sitting dead last in the NL Central after a hot start fizzled, but don’t let their record fool you. They’re trotting out Chase Burns, who’s been absolutely lights-out. Honestly, if Jacob Misiorowski wasn’t having an insane season in Milwaukee, Burns would be a serious contender for the NL Cy Young. He’s been that good. We saw flashes of this dominance last year when he first faced the Dodgers in July 2025. He wasn’t fully polished yet, but he still punched out double-digit batters for his third straight start in a 5-2 loss to the then-reigning champs. This season, Burns has a nasty 2.79 ERA over nearly 150 innings, rocking a dominant 15-3 record. What’s his secret sauce? He’s getting the fourth-best run support in baseball, averaging 5.88 runs per game. That’s the perfect recipe for a win machine.
Dodgers Rolling The Dice With Sheehan Amid Ohtani’s Return
Now, here’s where things get wild and why this matchup is so unique. The Dodgers, sitting in first place, are going with Emmert Sheehan on the mound. Remember Sheehan? He got sent down in early August after a brutal blowup start against the Red Sox on Sunday Night Baseball. Before that demotion, the Dodgers had lost five straight games that he started. While he’s been promising in Triple-A, allowing just one run in 17.1 innings since, his major league record this year is 4-8 across 20 appearances, meaning he’s lost two-thirds of his decisions. So, you’ve got the last-place Reds sending out an ace with a 15-3 record, and the first-place Dodgers countering with a guy who’s lost two-thirds of his decisions. Late in the season, with both pitchers having been with their clubs all year? That’s a head-scratcher.
This is going to be one of those games, folks. Ohtani’s return is huge, but the pitching duel, or lack thereof, is what has everyone talking. Can the Dodgers’ offense bail out a starter with that kind of record against a guy who’s been nearly unhittable? You’ll have to tune in tonight at 6:10 p.m. from Dodger Stadium to find out. Catch it on SportsNet LA, or listen on AM 570 if you’re local.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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