Baseball’s premier two-way threat is officially back! After a wait that dates back to August of 2023, fans will finally get to see Shohei Ohtani play a game in which he takes both the mound and a marquee spot in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ batting order. Ohtani makes his 2025 pitching debut at Dodger Stadium tonight against their NL West rivals, the San Diego Padres. It’s a joyous and electrifying moment for the sport as it rounds into summer. Ohtani isn’t expected to throw too many pitches, so we’re going to be fairly prudent with his pitching markets. We’ll break down his stats below, especially as it relates to his potential on the mound tonight. Here’s my favorite Shohei Ohtani prop bet on the market for tonight’s game between the Dodgers and the Padres.
Here’s how I’ll play it. I’ll be pumping out these predictions for individual games all season, with plenty of coverage here on DraftKings Network. Follow my handle @dansby_edits for more betting plays.
Best Shohei Ohtani prop bet for his pitching debut vs. the Padres tonight
Shohei Ohtani o1.5 strikeouts thrown (+105)
Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound tonight for the Dodgers is electric. Though limited to just a couple of innings, his strikeout prop of o1.5 is more than achievable. Despite his injury layoff, Ohtani’s strikeout pedigree is undeniable—his career K/9 sits at an elite 11.36, alongside a 3.31 FIP and a HR/9 of just 0.99. Against a Padres offense that strikes out 8.3 times per game (fifth-most in the MLB), the opportunity to hit two strikeouts in an abbreviated stint is within reach.
His betting splits for tonight’s matchup on DraftKings Sportsbook are listed below.
Ohtani’s fastball, clocking in around 96 mph, will generate swings and misses against a Padres lineup featuring high strikeout rates, particularly with players like Tatis Jr. and Machado, who rank among the top 25 in strikeouts for their positions. With his deadly splitter and high-velocity offerings, Ohtani will likely get hitters to chase early, even in limited action.
In his last full season (2023), Ohtani struck out 167 batters in 132 innings, highlighting his ability to rack up Ks even with a limited workload. His previous success against high-strikeout teams reinforces his potential to clear 1.5 strikeouts tonight. The Padres’ patience at the plate won’t help them much here—against a flamethrower like Ohtani, even a short stint can yield punchouts.
With his 11.4 K/9 this season, Ohtani is a strikeout machine. His return to the mound tonight is a golden opportunity to back his over 1.5 strikeouts. Even in an abbreviated outing, he’ll be ready to dominate. The Padres’ high strikeout rate against right-handers (25.4%) gives Ohtani a prime opportunity to rack up punchouts, even in his restricted pitch count.
If you’re looking for additional analysis on this prop, my colleague Zach Thompson wrote it up in his best Starting Pitcher Prop Bets of the day, as well!
Best bet: Shohei Ohtani o1.5 strikeouts thrown (+105)
Let’s ride the lightning—tail it with me in the DKN Betting Group here!
