Shohei Ohtani Shoutout! First to 51/51

DENVER — The Los Angeles Dodgers have already clinched a division crown over the San Diego Padres, but Shohei Ohtani provides a reason to keep close tabs.

“I check the scores, but don’t check the box scores,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Now, I’m personally invested.”

As recently as nine days ago, Ohtani trailed San Diego’s Luis Arraez — the two-time reigning batting champion — by 33 points in batting average. Because of Ohtani’s other historic pursuits, the possibility of a batting title and a Triple Crown drifted into the background.

But 50-50 is done and dusted. Ohtani’s bat has caught fire. The latest in this dominant stretch: Ohtani went 4-for-5 with a solo home run (falling a triple shy of the cycle) and achieved another record in Friday night’s 11-4 romp over the Colorado Rockies.

“Shohei, man, he put on a show tonight,” Roberts said.

Ohtani is 24 for his past 35, a ludicrous clip that raised his batting average from .287 to .309.

Current rankings

Luis Arraez (SD): .314 (199-for-634) -- Playing at AZ
Shohei Ohtani (LAD): .309 (194-for-627) -- Playing at COL
Marcell Ozuna (ATL): .308 (182-for-591) -- Playing vs. KC


How Ohtani can win

Ohtani’s chances appeared to be lower than Judge’s entering Friday, based on the fact that he was five points behind Ozuna for second place. But that gap evaporated, as Ohtani posted another huge game, while Ozuna went 0-for-3.

So let's set Ozuna aside and focus here on Ohtani vs. Arraez, who kept his grip on the NL lead with two more hits on Friday against the D-backs.

With the Dodgers having clinched the NL West title and the Padres a Wild Card spot (and home field in the Wild Card Series), it's entirely possible that both players rest for one of the final two games. Let's look at two scenarios, then: One where they both play one more game (and get five at-bats), and one where they both play two more games (and get nine).

One game apiece (Arraez 639 total at-bats, Ohtani 632)

Here are a few scenarios based on those exact at-bat totals (all batting averages are taken out to four decimal places below to help break ties):

• If Ohtani goes 4-for-5 (finishing at .3133) … he would win if Arraez goes no better than 1-for-5 (finishing at .3129).

• If Ohtani goes 3-for-5 (finishing at .3117) … he would win if Arraez goes no better than 0-for-5 (finishing at .3114).

Two games apiece (Arraez 643 total at-bats, Ohtani 636)

• If Ohtani goes 6-for-9 (finishing at .3145) … he would win if Arraez goes no better than 3-for-9 (finishing at .3141).

• If Ohtani goes 5-for-9 (finishing at .3129) … he would win if Arraez goes no better than 2-for-9 (finishing at .3125).

• If Ohtani goes 4-for-9 (finishing at .3113) … he would win if Arraez goes 1-for-9 (finishing at .3110).