Shohei Ohtani shows way as Dodgers offense emerges from slumber

Welcome to The California Post’s weekly Dodgers recap, where baseball writers Dylan Hernández and Jack Harris review the week that was, hand out very official awards and take stock of the state of the season.Shohei Ohtani (.478 average, 6 XBH, 9 RBIs this week; .272 average, .885 OPS, 8 HR, 26 RBIs this season)It’s no surprise that, just as Ohtani emerged from his slump this week, so did the Dodgers’ offense.From April 28 to May 12, the Dodgers failed to score more than three runs in 10 of 13 games — a glaring cold spell for their $415 million roster that led to a 4-9 slide.In that stretch, Ohtani was one of their coldest batters, reaching the nadir of his early-season slump with a .143 average and, at one point, an 0-18 drought.Ohtani has rediscovered his swing (and his approach) lately, however, returning from a two-day break from hitting by reaching safely multiple times in each of his six games since (and seven straight overall).The Dodgers’ offense, unsurprisingly, has also heated up right along with him, scoring at least four runs in all but one of their last eight games while going 7-1.How impactful has Ohtani been? In the Dodgers’ last 15 run-scoring innings, Ohtani has contributed in some form, either by getting on base or driving in a run or, as he did to lead off Wednesday’s game, hitting a home run.As he goes, so does the offense.

And lately both have been back in better form.Will Klein (4 scoreless innings, 4 strikeouts, 1 save) and Edgardo Henriquez (3.1 scoreless innings, 4 strikeouts, 1 hold)When Díaz got hurt, the Dodgers not only lost their closer but also their best right-handed reliever.It created an opportunity that Klein and Henriquez have taken advantage of.After their individual postseason heroics in October, both of them entered this year trying to establish themselves as consistent regular-season performers, too. Klein has been much of the year, holding teams scoreless in 11 of his 15 appearances, but has elevated his play...