Triple Crown Watch: Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani Has Chance to Reach Rare MLB Feat (original) (raw)
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is on pace to reach another milestone. At this point, Ohtani has proven he can do anything and everything in a Dodgers uniform.
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The Dodgers star hit his 54th home run of the season Friday against the Colorado Rockies. He also finished the game with an RBI count of 130. He will finish at the top in both categories. The only category left is batting average.
A Triple Crown for the Los Angeles slugger is within reach, especially with the latest update on the National League batting average leader. The San Diego Padres are resting several of their starters Saturday, including Luis Arraez.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a single against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 25, 2024 in... LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 25: Shohei Ohtani #17 of the Los Angeles Dodgers after hitting a single against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on September 25, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Shohei Ohtani is in reach of a Triple Crown this season. Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Arraez is the only thing standing between Ohtani and the Triple Crown. The Padres second baseman is batting at a .314 clip. Meanwhile, Ohtani isn't far behind batting .309.
Arraez kept the lead with two hits on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks; however, his absence from Saturday's contest has cleared a path for Ohtani to steal the lead.
Arraez came into Friday's matchup with a .312 average but added a few points to his clip after going 3-for-5.
Ohtani went 4-for-5 against the Rockies Friday, which put him at .309. Only two games remain in the regular season and it's definitely possible that Ohtani snags the lead.
It's possible that Ohtani could sit out Sunday's series finale in Colorado. There is also a possibility that Arraez could play on Sunday as well.
Ohtani's performance Saturday could dictate whether the superstar either rests or plays in the last game of the regular season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts all but confirmed Ohtani would do everything he can to reach the historic milestone.
"He's had a tremendous season," Roberts told Juan Toribio of MLB.com. "When you get to the one-yard line on certain statistics, whether it's a potential Triple Crown, a 60-60, whatever it might be, stealing 60 bases, you want to try to get there as best you can."
If Ohtani were to reach a Triple Crown, he would be the first MLB player to do so in 12 years.
Ohtani's first season with the Dodgers has been everything fans hoped it would be, and more. The 2024 season was the best offensive season of Ohtani's career.
The season will be remembered throughout baseball history, whether he reaches a Triple Crown or not.
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