Could Shohei Ohtani capture NL Batting Title amid Luis Arraez and Marcell Ozuna cold snaps?

Shohei Ohtani continues to add to his historic 2024 MLB season, as the 30-year-old registered another RBI to give the Dodgers the lead in their 7-2 win over the San Diego Padres on Thursday, as the Blues clinched the NL West Division title at home.

With the first 50-50 major league season already to his name, it seems for all likelihood that the Japanese International is going to be crowned NL MVP come the end of the season. However, there is a chance that Ohtani will add to his haul for the season with another award, the NL Batting Title.

Shohei Ohtani in action against the Colorado Rockies - Source: Getty

The award is based solely on batting average, so a hit of any kind contributes towards it, assuming the player accumulates at least 502 plate appearances over the 162-game season.

Currently, Ohtani sits third in the standings for the NL Batting Title. The Dodgers' DH boasts a .305 average, which is behind only Marcell Ozuna (Atlanta Braves) who is second with .310 and Luis Arraez (San Diego Padres) who is currently top, batting .312 for the 2024 season.

However, Ohtani's exceptional production at the plate gives the 30-year-old a real chance of making a push for the title with only three games left to play. In their last 10 games, Arraez and Ozuna are batting .190 and .361 respectively, while Ohtani is batting .512.

A trip to Coors Field bodes well for Shohei Ohtani's hopes of winning the NL Batting Title

To overtake Arraez and Ozuna in the standings, Ohtani will need strong performances in the three remaining games of the regular season. A trip to perhaps MLB's most hitter-friendly ground in Coors Field is just what the doctor ordered for a player of Ohtani's ability.

In the last 10 games he has played against the Rockies, Ohtani has been dominant. The Dodgers' leadoff hitter has a .436 batting average, with 17 hits, four home runs and 10 RBIs against the Rox.

With the Dodgers having won their latest NL West title on Thursday, there is a chance that skipper Dave Roberts rests some of the big guns, which obviously puts paid to Ohtani's chances of securing the title. In case Roberts does go full-strength though, Shohei Ohtani going yard in Denver may be a shrewd bet to make.