What happened: Ohtani has not pitched since July 3 after knee issues delayed his return to the mound.
Why it matters: The comparison underscores how much ground he has lost in the late-season MVP discussion while remaining out of the pitching rotation.
By the numbers: Since Ohtani last pitched, the league-leading comparison posted 4.1 fWAR to Ohtani’s 1.0, with a 180-130 wRC+ edge. The gap includes 19-12 in home runs, 43-26 in runs, 42-30 in RBIs and 11-4 in stolen bases.
What to watch: Watch for the next update on Ohtani’s pitching workload and return timetable.