Shohei Ohtani still left Dodger Stadium with a win against the Rays, but fans quickly spotted the worrying reason his outing looked so unlike the rest of his season.
The box score told one story.
The blood on his uniform told another.
Shohei Ohtani’s blister explains his pitching struggle against the Rays
Ohtani allowed a season-high four earned runs in the Dodgers’ 5-4 win over Tampa Bay, giving up seven hits and one walk with five strikeouts across six innings.
For most pitchers, that line would be manageable. For Ohtani’s 2026 standard, it stood out. He entered the start with a 1.06 ERA, then still walked away at 7-2 with a 1.47 ERA, showing how dominant he had been before one bad inning changed the conversation.
The fifth inning was the problem. Tampa Bay reached for four runs after Ohtani had extended the Dodgers’ scoreless streak against the Rays to 20 innings, and fans then noticed the physical issue on his pitching hand.
“Shohei Ohtani’s blister is bleeding during his start vs the Rays today. The blood dripped onto his pants but he’s still been fighting through it for the Dodgers.”
A bleeding blister can matter for any pitcher because it affects grip, pressure, and release point. For Ohtani, who relies on sharp command and feel across a power arsenal, even a small change could help explain why the fifth unraveled so quickly.
Dodgers still have historic Shohei Ohtani production
The blister was not the only issue. Ohtani was also pitching days after leaving a game in Pittsburgh with left knee inflammation, and MLB.com reported before the Rays start that the Dodgers were monitoring him closely.
Dave Roberts said before the game that Ohtani would not start if the Dodgers felt they were putting him in harm’s way. Ohtani had thrown a light bullpen session after the swelling went down, which cleared the final hurdle for him to face Tampa Bay.
Even after the roughest pitching line of his season, the overall numbers remain absurd. Ohtani is 7-2 with a 1.47 ERA, 73 2/3 innings, 78 strikeouts, and a 0.88 WHIP as a pitcher.
At the plate, he is still carrying elite production too, hitting .296 with 15 home runs, 42 RBI, a .418 on-base percentage, and a .963 OPS.
That is why the blister matters. It did not turn Ohtani into a liability, but it offered a visible reason for a rare wobble. The Dodgers will now need to make sure one bloody finger does not become a bigger summer problem.
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