Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani faced a challenging outing against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, grappling with a blister on his pitching hand and lingering issues with his left knee. Despite Ohtani's struggles, the Dodgers secured a thrilling 5-4 victory, completing a three-game sweep of the visiting Rays.

Ohtani's performance marked a downturn from his prior start, where he allowed four runs, three earned, against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His ERA increased from 0.74 to 1.47, yet it remains the second-lowest among pitchers with at least 50 innings this season, trailing only Jacob Misiorowski of the Milwaukee Brewers at 1.34.

In the game against the Rays, Ohtani started strong, throwing four scoreless innings. However, a blister on his right middle finger erupted in the fifth inning, leading to a series of hits that turned a 2-0 Dodgers lead into a 4-2 deficit for the team. The sequence of events included:

• Walk
• Double
• Sac fly
• Multiple singles
• Ground-outs

Despite the struggles, Ohtani managed to retire the side in order during the sixth inning, finishing with 91 pitches.

Ohtani, who had been pulled from a previous game due to knee inflammation, attributed his knee issues to pitching mechanics. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence that Ohtani's knee soreness is not a significant concern, although he acknowledged the need for Ohtani to work through some delivery mechanics related to the knee. Ohtani himself downplayed the impact of the blister, stating, "Just part of the game," emphasizing the importance of the team victory.

Looking ahead, Roberts mentioned that extra rest might be an option for Ohtani but confirmed that he expects him to make his next scheduled start.