Overview

• Dodgers owner Mark Walter is buying a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers from the Buss family for $10 billion, potentially aligning two of the city’s flagship franchises under one roof.
• Social media users flooded platforms with images of Shohei Ohtani in a Lakers jersey and jokes about a two-sport crossover following news of the impending ownership change.
• Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Lakers fans to keep “hands off” Ohtani, quipping that forward Rui Hachimura already handles the team’s Japanese representation.
• Ohtani returned to pitching for the first time in over two years, throwing 28 pitches—including 16 strikes—and touching 100.2 mph on his four-seam fastball during a recent outing against the Padres.
• At the plate, Ohtani has launched 25 home runs this season and is batting .296, cementing his place in MVP discussions.