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Dave Roberts Reveals Concern About Shohei Ohtani's MVP Chances

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rex Villas | Last updated Sep 18, 2025 6:11 AM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers are back on track after closing out their three-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium with a 5-0 victory. Two-way superstar and reigning National League Most Valuable Player Shohei Ohtani helped his team get that victory with a blast in the eighth inning that padded LA's lead late in the contest.

A day after becoming just the first player ever in the history of the big leagues to have at least 50 home runs and 50 strikeouts as a pitcher in the same season, Ohtani added to his stellar 2025 resume in the Phillies series finale with a homer in the eighth inning.

Regardless of how the rest of the season plays out for Los Angeles, there is no denying that Ohtani has put together yet another impressive campaign. On the season, he is hitting .282/.394/.614 with 51 home runs and 95 RBIs. On the mound, he is 1-1 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.07 WHIP through 13 starts.

The only question left about Ohtani is whether he's done enough to win his second consecutive NL MVP Award.

In the eyes of Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, that's not even up for debate.

"With what he's done with the bat and now what he's done on the mound, it's a landslide," Roberts said following the win against the Phillies (h/t Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic).

"It's a no-brainer. The only thing is, I hope some of those voters get, voter fatigue just because it's the easiest option."

Ohtani, Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto are among those widely considered as chief contenders for the NL MVP honor. There are several factors voters can consider when making their MVP pick.

For what it's worth, Ohtani leads the league with a 1.008 OPS, and while he's far from being the best pitcher in the league, he's been decent with the ball in his hands. That's not to mention that he's the only one doing pitching and batting duties in the big leagues.

Ohtani has three MVP awards overall in MLB, including the one he bagged during his final season with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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