Overview

• Shohei Ohtani logged five innings with a season-high nine strikeouts on 87 pitches in a 5-1 win over the Reds, allowing two hits and one run.
• Manager Dave Roberts said five innings is the ceiling "for now" and that the next outing is expected to target roughly five innings and 90 pitches, likely Wednesday in Pittsburgh.
• Ohtani called reaching five innings a key step and said any move beyond that will be determined collaboratively by team doctors, the front office and Roberts.
• Against Cincinnati, Ohtani shifted his pitch mix toward off-speed and breaking stuff, throwing 23 curveballs with breaking balls comprising about 53% of his usage.
• MLB.com reported the Dodgers’ workload strategy is stabilizing the rotation, with a six-man group and a strong August from starters as Ohtani is tentatively capped at five frames.