Shohei Ohtani is having a season for the ages—an ERA under 1.00, a clear path to the NL MVP, and the Los Angeles Dodgers looking like the team to beat for a third straight World Series. But when it comes to the NL Cy Young award in 2026, even baseball's two-way superstar faces two major hurdles that could keep him from claiming the trophy.

Hurdle No. 1: The workload question

Ohtani's dominance on the mound has been undeniable, but can he sustain it over a full season while carrying a typical pitcher's workload? CBS Sports' Matt Snyder points out a key concern: "I'm not confident Ohtani can perform this well over a full season while shouldering a full pitcher workload. He probably needs to work up to around 180 innings in the regular season, and the Dodgers are going to be worried about the playoffs."

With Los Angeles chasing another championship, the team is understandably cautious about pushing Ohtani too hard. Even if he delivers elite innings, reaching the volume needed for serious Cy Young consideration—typically 160-plus innings of dominant work—is a tall order when the team is managing his arm for October.

Hurdle No. 2: Paul Skenes is rising fast

Even if Ohtani reaches 165 innings of excellent rate work, he's not just competing against a statistical benchmark. He's competing against a full-time pitcher with no such limitations: Pittsburgh Pirates' phenom Paul Skenes. Despite a rocky Opening Day where he allowed five runs in less than an inning, Skenes has bounced back with a 2.36 ERA over eight outings, including a recent eight-inning shutout masterpiece. He's the kind of pitcher who can pile up innings and strikeouts without any restrictions, making him a formidable rival.

For Ohtani, the path to the Cy Young is clear but steep: stay healthy, keep his ERA under 1.00, and hope Skenes stumbles. But in a season where the Dodgers are focused on another parade, the Cy Young might just have to wait.