Ohtani: First Pitcher In 100 Years To Start A Game While Leading MLB In Home Runs

Shohei Ohtani will be the Angels' starting pitcher tonight in Texas (8 PM ET). He will take the mound while also leading the major leagues in home runs. A player has not done that in almost 100 years.

And that player was (not surprisingly) Babe Ruth. On Monday, June 13, 1921, Ruth led both leagues with 19 home runs and he started the Yankees' game against the Tigers. He went five innings and allowed four runs (three earned), walking seven and striking out one (Ty Cobb!). He also hit two dongs and New York won 13-8. After another start on October 1, 1921, Ruth did not pitch for another nine years.

Ohtani's seven home runs is actually tied for the MLB lead with seven other players. He has homered in each of his last two games and three of his last five. This will be his third start of the season. In his first two starts, he had allowed three hits and three runs (one earned) in 8.2 innings while walking 11 (!) and striking out 14.

Since April 13, when Ohtani was hitting .364 with a 1.187 OPS, he has slumped, going 6-for-33 (.182/.229/.485). His season OPS is still .983, good enough for second on the Angels behind Mike Trout (1.325).