Ohtani's Walk-Off Homer Caps Dodgers' Epic Comeback in Perfect Start to Season

Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers are making a statement in a fun way. The Dodgers extended their perfect start to the season with a walk-off homer by Ohtani—on his bobblehead night—completing a dramatic comeback from a 5-0 deficit against the Atlanta Braves. This was by far the most jaw-dropping of their comeback wins this season.

The Dodgers are now 8-0, while the Braves remain winless at 0-7. Ohtani’s homer was his third of the season, and after Wednesday’s game, he's hitting .333/.459/.667 with two stolen bases while still recovering from his rehab to return to the mound.

Los Angeles now holds the record for the best start by a defending World Series champion, surpassing the 1933 New York Yankees by winning their first eight games. The win also marks a stunning performance by the NL West, with the Padres being the only other undefeated team left in MLB. Meanwhile, the Giants and Diamondbacks have lost fewer than two games, making the division’s combined record an impressive 24-3. The Colorado Rockies, however, are stuck at the bottom with a 1-4 record.

Ohtani’s walk-off capped a thrilling comeback for the Dodgers. Despite promises that there would be enough Ohtani bobbleheads for everyone, fans lined up early to get theirs. The bobblehead commemorated Ohtani's third MVP award, this time in the NL.

The game seemed bleak early on, as Blake Snell, who signed a $182 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason, struggled in his second straight rough outing. By the end of the fourth inning, the Dodgers were down 5-0, after Snell gave up five unearned runs on five hits and four walks. The shaky performance of the Dodgers’ rotation this season had already shown signs of struggle, with Roki Sasaki also facing issues.

But the bullpen stepped up. Ben Casparius, Kirby Yates, and Jack Dreyer combined for five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out six. The offense began to chip away at the Braves’ pitching staff, with home runs from Tommy Edman and Michael Conforto narrowing the gap. Max Muncy tied the game in the eighth with a clutch RBI double, despite struggling earlier in the game.

Then, Ohtani sealed the deal. After the Dodgers' strong offseason and their 2024 World Series win, it’s clear they are a force to be reckoned with—an absolute nightmare to face in a full nine-inning game.