Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar for the Los Angeles Angels, will be skipping his next start on the mound due to arm fatigue. However, this didn’t stop Ohtani from hitting his league-leading 41st home run of the season to help lead the Angels to a 2-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Originally scheduled to start on Tuesday in Texas, Ohtani’s next outing will be pushed back to a start against the Cincinnati Reds at Angel Stadium sometime between August 21 and 22. Angels manager Phil Nevin emphasized that Ohtani is not injured, but rather requested to skip just one turn through the rotation. Ohtani’s impressive homer in the sixth inning off lefty reliever Parker Mushinski, which traveled a projected 448 feet, proved that he is feeling fine at the plate.
Left-hander Patrick Sandoval will now start the series opener in Texas on Monday, while right-hander Lucas Giolito will be moved up a day to start on Tuesday. The starting pitcher for Wednesday’s game is yet to be announced, but it is possible that right-hander Griffin Canning, who was reinstated from the injured list on Sunday, will take the mound.
Despite the arm fatigue, Ohtani has been performing well on the pitching front. He has not allowed an earned run in his past three starts, totaling 19 innings. Ohtani left his previous start against the Seattle Mariners after four scoreless innings due to cramping in his right middle finger. However, he bounced back in his most recent start against the San Francisco Giants, allowing just one unearned run over six innings.
During the game against the Giants, Ohtani displayed visible frustration and Angels manager Phil Nevin noticed signs of fatigue. When Ohtani expressed his belief that skipping a start would be beneficial, Nevin quickly agreed, trusting Ohtani’s understanding of his own body.
This season, Ohtani has made 22 starts, posting a 3.17 ERA with 165 strikeouts in 130 2/3 innings. In the previous season, he threw a career-high 166 innings over 28 starts, with a 2.33 ERA and 219 strikeouts. While he was on track to throw around 180 innings this year, that number will decrease slightly due to the skipped start.
Nevin also confirmed that Ohtani will not require any time off as a designated hitter. With an off-day coming up on Thursday, Ohtani will have ample time to rest and recover. In Sunday’s game, he hit second in the lineup and connected on his first home run since August 3, further demonstrating his ability to perform at the plate despite the arm fatigue. The home run came in the sixth inning and solidified the Angels’ lead at 2-0.
Additionally, Ohtani drew a leadoff walk in the ninth inning and stole his 17th base of the season. This marked the fourth time this season that he has both homered and stolen a base in the same game. With a batting average of .305, an on-base percentage of .408, and a slugging percentage of .665, Ohtani’s offensive contributions have been crucial to the Angels’ success. He has recorded 41 home runs, 20 doubles, seven triples, 84 RBIs, and 91 runs scored in 117 games. On Saturday, Ohtani hit his hardest ball of the season, with an exit velocity of 118.3 mph, a double off the wall in right-center field.
Manager Phil Nevin reassured that Ohtani’s hitting ability is not affected by the arm fatigue. He believes that Ohtani is healthy at the plate and saw strong signs of his capabilities in the previous night’s game.
As the heavy frontrunner for the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors, Ohtani’s presence and contributions to the Angels have been remarkable. Despite the arm fatigue, he continues to excel both on the pitcher’s mound and at the plate. His determination, skills, and understanding of his own body have gained the trust and confidence of his team, leaving manager Phil Nevin certain that Ohtani will be ready for his next start.