Sports
Shaikin: Shohei Ohtani was supposed to fix the Dodgers' postseason woes. So why hasn't he?
This year would be different.
This year would be about winning a postseason series.
This year would be the year the best player in baseball made sure of it.
Or not.
Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers are on the verge of elimination from the National League Division Series. The San Diego Padres beat the Dodgers on Tuesday, 6-5, so the Dodgers either win two straight games or lose in their first round for the third straight season.
Ten years ago, the best player in baseball led a Southern California team into the playoffs. He would be voted his league’s most valuable player, unanimously.
He was Mike Trout, and his Angels would be eliminated in the first round. In his postseason debut, Trout had one hit in three games — a home run — in 12 at-bats. He reached base four times.
Ohtani should be voted his league’s most valuable player, unanimously.
However, in his postseason debut, Ohtani has three hits — including one home run — in 13 at-bats. He has reached base three times.
He has struck out six times, the most of anyone in the series and twice as often as anyone on the Padres. After stealing 59 bases in the regular season, Ohtani has not stolen a base in the postseason.
Shohei Ohtani breaks his bat on a single during the third inning of Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Performance in the summer guarantees nothing in October. Consider Aaron Judge, the likely American League MVP. Judge is one for seven this October. In his previous postseason series, the 2022 AL Championship Series, he went one for 16.
Fair or not, expectations are greater when your team rewards you with a $700-million contract.
When Dodgers owner Mark Walter recruited Ohtani, Walter told him he considered the past decade a failure. Every year in the past decade included a postseason appearance, but only one year ended in a championship.
The underlying message to Ohtani: We want to change this, and we need you to do it.
The Padres have two chances to end the Dodgers’ season this week. If they do, the Dodgers would advance no further than they did last year, when the Angels employed Ohtani.
Doomsday feeling? Not to Ohtani.
“We just have to win two games in a row,” he said. “I don’t really have the sense of there being no tomorrow. We win two games and we’re OK.”
On Tuesday, Ohtani struck out twice, flied out and had a broken-bat single. Of his four at-bats, three came with the bases empty, so he had a minimal chance to do maximum damage.
“I think that the moment is certainly not getting too big for him,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think they’re making some good pitches. Obviously he had a good Game 1 and was kept somewhat at bay [since then], still threw out a knock tonight.
“So, yeah, I think that he’s still in a good place. He’ll be ready to hit a mistake. And I still feel good about having Shohei in there tomorrow to do some good things.”
Freddie Freeman shook his head. He understands what fans might expect of Ohtani, but he also understands the reality of October.
“He’s had a good series so far,” Freeman said. “I know everyone wants us to hit .400. We’re facing ones and twos and great bullpens. We’re putting some good at-bats on it.”
The Padres’ bullpen, significantly upgraded by general manager AJ Preller at the trade deadline, has a 1.69 earned-run average in this series.
Left-hander Tanner Scott, the best reliever traded at the deadline, has faced Ohtani three times in this series, once in each game. Scott has struck out Ohtani all three times.
“Of course, he’s a wonderful pitcher,” Ohtani said. “I think what’s important on this side is to have a solid approach and stand in the batter’s box in solid condition.”
In his at-bat against Scott on Tuesday, representing the tying run, Ohtani took a slider for a called third strike.
San Diego Padres fans cheer as Shohei Ohtani bats in the eighth inning of the Dodgers’ 6-5 loss in Game 3 of the NLDS on Tuesday.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
“It was good pitching, and it would have been good to at least foul the ball,” Ohtani said. “But the fastball before was hittable, so it would have been good if I had hit that.”
This is not all on Ohtani, of course. The Dodgers are batting .216 in the series. Their starting pitchers have a 6.46 earned-run average.
But Ohtani led the NL in on-base percentage this season. Of the nine regulars in the Dodgers’ lineup, however, the only one with a lower on-base percentage than Ohtani is Max Muncy.
Whether you prefer to call Ohtani the leadoff man or the $700-million man, that just won’t do.
Sports
Golf star records lowest round in LPGA major history with astounding performance at Evian Championship
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There are good days on the golf course, and then there is what Haeran Ryu just did on Saturday.
Ryu, 25, recorded the lowest round in LPGA major history on Saturday with an 11-under 60 at the Evian Championship. With the South Korean golfer’s historic round, she holds a three-stroke lead.
Ryu’s round comes just two weeks after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA Championship. On the 18th hole, Ryu left a 30-foot eagle putt a few inches short, and instead settled for a birdie.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea reacts on the 18th green after the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
She said after the round that she had no idea what she had done until she counted up her scorecard.
“But after the putt and I counted my score with my caddie,” she said. “Oh my God, it’s 11-under par today. It was so amazing. My caddie says, ‘Yep.’ I’m so happy right now.”
If Ryu had made the eagle putt on the 18th hole, she would have been just the second player to shoot a 59 in LPGA history.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea celebrates a birdie on the 15th green during the third round of The Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 11, 2026, in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Her 60 broke the record for the lowest round in an LPGA major by one shot. Leona Maguire and Jeungeun Lee6 in 2021, and Hyo Joo Kim in 2014, each shot 61 at the Evian Championship, which was designated as an LPGA major in 2013.
The lowest round in a men’s major is 62, which is shared by four players — Branden Grace at Royal Birkdale in the 2017 British Open, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, and Schauffele and Shane Lowry in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.
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Haeran Ryu of South Korea and Lottie Woad of England interact after their round on the 18th green during the third round of the Amundi Evian Championship at Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France, on July 11, 2026. (Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Ryu hopes her historic third round can help propel her to a second major win in three weeks.
“That is amazing, amazing dream,” Ryu said. “So I just want that one to come true, but we have one more day.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Taylor Crabb is no stranger to South California beaches. The Long Beach State alum returns home this weekend to compete in AVP League matches.
It marks the first time AVP will compete in Long Beach since 2020 and allows players to compete at the 2028 Olympics beach volleyball venue.
Crabb, 34, made his AVP debut in 2013 with his brother, Trevor, and advanced from the qualifier in Manhattan Beach before finishing 25th in his first tournament.
After years of competing with various different partners, Taylor Crabb and Andy Benesh have delivered the top performances this AVP season.
The following interview with Crabb has been edited for clarity and length.
Are you excited to compete in this weekend’s event at Long Beach?
Crabb: Very excited. A lot of my college teammates and part of the school have reached out, saying that they’re gonna come. So I’m excited to get a chance to play in front of them again.
When was the last time you were in Long Beach?
Crabb: I always try to go down there for alumni events or any big games they have. I went to UCLA against Long Beach last year, when it was No. 1 versus No. 2, so I always try to get down there and support them.
You missed out on the chance to compete in the 2020 Olympics because of COVID-19 restrictions and chose not to pursue a spot at the 2024 Olympics. Are you fired up to try to compete in the 2028 Olympics, knowing that Long Beach will host the competition?
Crabb: Yeah, it’s definitely an exciting time having the Olympics in Long Beach, and we kind of get to break it in this weekend. As you said, Tokyo didn’t go the way I wanted, but I’m going full force now. I have a great partner in Andy Benesh, who obviously went to the Paris Olympics, and if it weren’t for the Olympics being in Long Beach, and me getting a partner like Andy, I’m not even sure I’d be going for it, but because of those two things, I want to make the most of it.
You mentioned that if it wasn’t for a partner like Andy, you wouldn’t be going for it. What do you mean by that?
Crabb: I didn’t feel motivated by playing in all the international events, but now, I think, sitting out kind of lit the fire under me, and I’m really motivated now.
You’ve had different partners throughout your time. What other motivation does Andy give you?
Crabb: He’s been, in my mind, the top blocker for the U.S. the last four or five years. Seeing the professionalism he brings every day to practice, on and off the court, while traveling and when showing up to tournaments, it rubs off on you and that’s really motivating to see. And I just want to make him proud.
Why do you love volleyball?
Crabb: A lot of reasons, but it’s just a feeling I have when I’m out there on the court. It feels natural. It feels like home. I was born into a volleyball family. I had a volleyball in my hands my entire life, so I’ve always just enjoyed it.
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CM Punk appeared on “Friday Night SmackDown” ready to take on any challenger that was ready to step to him after winning the Undisputed WWE Championship against Sami Zayn.
Punk entered the ring in Oklahoma City and called back to the “Monday Night Raw” after WrestleMania 42 when he told Cody Rhodes he’d be ready to deliver if a championship opportunity fell “out of the sky.”
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Cody Rhodes and CM Punk face off during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
“When championship opportunities fall out of the sky, CM Punk catches them,” he said.
Punk named potential SmackDown superstars he’d think might come for the title, including Gunther, Finn Balor, Royce Keys, Damian Priest and Trick Williams. He even said that Zayn could come back around and get his rematch if he wanted. He didn’t mention Rhodes’ name, but the “American Nightmare” came out uncalled and marched his way down to the ring.
“I don’t think you and I can run away from each other anymore,” Punk told Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes looks on during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Craig Ambrosio/WWE via Getty Images)
Rhodes agreed and mentioned that Punk would want a match with him, just “say when.” It was a quick retort from Punk, who said, “when.” SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis, who was in the ring for the segment, booked the match for SummerSlam.
Punk will defend the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam, which takes place Aug. 1 and 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
First, however, Punk and Rhodes will be involved in a tag team match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York City next week. Aldis made the match after Gunther demanded that Aldis put him in a match against Punk. Gunther was hoping it would be for the championship. Instead, Gunther will tag with Zayn.
Gunther didn’t take too kindly to that and attacked Aldis. Rhodes came back out to break up the calamity. He wanted to take on Gunther after the show went off air but Gunther walked away.
Gunther makes his entrance during SmackDown at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., on July 10, 2026. (Rich Wade/WWE via Getty Images)
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Punk definitely has his hands full as he moves to SmackDown to become a fighting champion.
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