The last time Shohei Ohtani pitched against Mike Trout, there was a title on the line. With Samurai Japan on the cusp of winning the 2023 World Baseball Classic over Team USA, the stage was set for an electric matchup between two of the game's biggest superstars.

Shohei Ohtani pitched against Mike Trout for the first time since their meeting in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

Ohtani pitched 4 1/3 innings of five-hit, four-run ball against the Angels. He gave up up a homer to Taylor Ward and a two-run double to Zach Neto, but he also fanned Mike Trout twice, getting his friend and fellow MVP the second time with his fastest pitch of the night — a 101 mph fastball in the fourth.

Shohei Ohtani returned to the mound for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday in a familiar setting. Here's how it went.

Shohei Ohtani made his latest pitching start on Wednesday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers played the Los Angeles Angels in the Freeway Series finale. Although Ohtani has already played his former team as a designated hitter in the Dodgers’ lineup,

For the first time since the 2023 World Baseball Classic, former teammates Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout faced each other. The result remained the same, though.

Shohei Ohtani strikes out Mike Trout two times as the Dodgers lose to the Angels 6-5. ESPN BET Sportsbook is owned and operated by PENN Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries ('PENN'). ESPN BET is available in states where PENN is licensed to offer sports wagering.

In their first matchup since the end of the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Shohei Ohtani got Mike Trout looking with a sweeper.