51/51 Club: Shohei Ohtani’s historic night in Miami

Shohei Ohtani delivered one of the most extraordinary hitting performances in baseball history on Thursday, etching his name into the record books once again.

In a ridiculous outing against the Miami Marlins, Ohtani hit his 49th, 50th, and 51st home runs of the season, making him the first player in MLB history to achieve 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season.

Ohtani’s brilliance didn’t stop there.

He also secured his 50th and 51st stolen bases, finishing the game a remarkable 6-for-6 with 10 RBIs. His historic blast in the seventh inning off Miami’s Mike Baumann was not only his second home run of the day but also broke Shawn Green’s Dodgers franchise record for home runs in a season.

He capped off his night with a 440-foot three-run homer in the ninth, contributing to the Dodgers’ impressive 20-4 victory.

Shohei Ohtani first MLB 51/51 Player EVER

SHOHEI OHTANI HAS DONE IT

50 HOME RUNS | 50 STOLEN BASES

HISTORY pic.twitter.com/GRVJUCbpja

— MLB (@MLB) September 19, 2024

In terms of historical context, since RBIs became an official stat in 1920, no player had recorded a game with 10 RBIs, six hits, five extra-base hits, three home runs, and two stolen bases—until Ohtani did it all on Thursday.

He also became the seventh player to record 17 total bases in a game, and the first to achieve this without hitting four home runs.

Ohtani’s 50/50 milestone highlights a remarkable first season with the Dodgers after signing a record 10-year, $700 million deal in the offseason.

At just 30 years old, he earned his fourth All-Star nod this summer and is a heavy favorite for the National League MVP. His 50 home runs not only lead the NL but also trail only Aaron Judge for the most in baseball, while his 51 stolen bases rank second in the league, behind Elly De La Cruz.

Despite not pitching in the 2024 regular season due to a UCL tear repair operation, Ohtani’s stellar performance at the plate and on the bases positions him as a top contender for his third MVP Award, adding another remarkable chapter to his illustrious career.

National League Postseason Race

Last night in New York, it was a typical 5th rotation spot “scheduled loss” for the Philadelphia Phillies. Taijuan Walker got shelled yet again and now there’s a GoFundMe to get him out of Philadelphia.

The Taijuan Walker Exit Strategy: Someone made a GoFundMe to help get him out of Philadelphia

The Phillies can clinch their first NL East title in 13 years no earlier than Friday night. 

The Phillies are now 91-62 on the season. They are 6-4 over their last 10 games and lead the New York Mets by six games and Atlanta Braves by eight games in the NL East standings.

In the National League the Phillies now tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for best record. They lead the third place New York Yankees by two games, and the Milwaukee Brewers by three games for the best record in all of Major League Baseball.

Phillies / MLB Postseason Updates >>

Philadelphia Phillies

With a 6-game lead over the Mets, the Phillies are on the verge of locking up the NL East. FanGraphs gives them a 100% chance of making the playoffs and a 99.8% shot at winning the division.

Tiebreaker Situation:

• Win: Brewers, Dodgers, Padres
• Lose: D-backs, Braves
• TBD: Mets (6-4, 3 games left)

The Phillies hold key tiebreakers over both the Dodgers and Brewers, positioning them well for playoff seeding if they finish with the same record as either team.

Clinch Scenario: The Phillies could officially punch their ticket to the postseason as early as Friday with a win over the Mets.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Sitting atop the NL West with a 4-game lead over the Padres, the Dodgers have already secured a postseason spot and boast a 92.9% chance of winning the division, according to FanGraphs.

Tiebreaker Situation:

• Win: Braves, Brewers, Mets, D-backs
• Lose: Phillies, Padres
• TBD: N/A

The Dodgers hold key tiebreakers over most playoff contenders, including the Brewers and Braves, which is huge for potential seeding. However, they’ve lost the tiebreaker

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