Dodgers notes: Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Walker Buehler

Shohei Ohtani made his return to Anaheim for the first time since signing his lucrative contract with the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Throughout his six seasons as a member of the Angels, Ohtani never experienced a winning season, with the 2018 team finishing with just 80 wins, the highest Ohtani’s teams ever had before this season.

Now, after defeating his former team for the third time this season and with his new team now a season high 29 games over .500, Ohtani hasn’t looked back at what could’ve been during his time in Anaheim, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

When asked if he might have re-signed with the Angels if they had, Ohtani said: “In reality, I wasn’t made an offer, so I can’t say. In reality, I’m doing my best with this team, and I’m doing my best with the goal of winning the World Series. I think I’m fine with that.”

Doing his best (while not pitching) he certainly has, as he is still the favorite to secure his third MVP award.

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The Dodgers have now won 11 of their past 14 games after Tuesday’s extra-inning affair, yet it hasn’t been enough to widen their division lead over both the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

For the recently surging Freddie Freeman, worrying about the team’s current division lead is nowhere near the top of his priority list, notes Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

“I mean, we still have 20-plus games left,” said Freeman, who returned from getting a series off to hit four home runs and drive in 10 runs against the Diamondbacks. “So if you’re looking at division leads this early in September, you’re doing the wrong thing.”

Walker Buehler put most of his early season struggles (aside from two mistake pitches) to bed on Tuesday, limiting the Angels to just two runs over five innings while striking out six, the most he had in a start since May 31 against the Colorado Rockies.

Buehler’s performance through the remainder of the regular season will decide where he lands within the team’s postseason rotation, writes Juan Toribio of MLB.com.