Shohei Ohtani Leaves Mound with Finger Pain for Third Straight Start
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Shohei Ohtani’s struggles continued on Friday night as he left the mound with finger pain for his third consecutive start. Ohtani, the two-way superstar for the Los Angeles Angels, is facing a series of challenges that go beyond the blister and cracked fingernail that have been preventing him from pitching at his best. With the Angels in a freefall and uncertainty surrounding his future ahead of the trade deadline, Ohtani’s performance and injuries have become a cause for concern.
In the Angels’ 7-5 loss to the Houston Astros, Ohtani allowed four earned runs on five hits before exiting the game in the sixth inning. He walked Corey Julks to open the inning and consulted with the Angels’ training staff before leaving due to persistent minor problems in his pitching hand. This comes after Ohtani’s final start before the All-Star break was cut short due to a fingertip blister, and he also dealt with a cracked nail last month.
Speaking through his translator, Ohtani expressed his frustration and uncertainty about when he will be able to pitch again. “For the most part, things just didn’t go the way I wanted to,” he said. “I haven’t really thought about when my next outing is. I’m just going to come to the field, see where my finger is at, and go from there.”
The extent of Ohtani’s current injury is still unclear. “It’s hard to tell,” he said. “I’m frustrated to a certain point. Not just me, but I feel the whole team is. I think it’s only natural when we can’t win games that the frustration builds up.”
Despite his struggles on the mound, Ohtani contributed offensively, delivering two singles at the plate. However, the Angels’ losing streak extended to six games, and they have lost 10 out of their last 11 games.
Angels manager Phil Nevin noticed something was off with Ohtani in the sixth inning and decided it was best to remove him from the game. “I saw something not right after he walked (Julks), so I wanted to check on him, and he kind of mentioned that the finger was a little sensitive,” Nevin explained.
Ohtani’s performance and the Angels’ recent poor results have raised questions about his future with the team. He will be a free agent this winter, and the team’s playoff chances are dwindling. Trade rumors have started to circulate, increasing the uncertainty surrounding Ohtani’s future in Orange County.
Astros manager Dusty Baker also noticed Ohtani’s struggles, saying, “Seemed like he wasn’t really himself tonight. Don’t know if that blister is still bothering him, but he didn’t throw some pitches he normally throws. Anytime you get five runs off Ohtani, you did well. But he didn’t look like himself.”
Following Ohtani’s exit, the Astros capitalized on the opportunity, scoring two runs and securing a win over the struggling Angels. Ryan Pressly closed the game, striking out Ohtani and the rest of the side in the ninth inning.
The Angels’ frustration was evident not only in Ohtani’s performance but also in their defensive mistakes. Third baseman Luis Rengifo was removed from the game in the fifth inning after committing an error and failing to hustle on a play. Manager Phil Nevin stated, “There’s certain things I’m not going to tolerate… I didn’t think he gave it the best effort.”
Despite acknowledging their mistakes, both Rengifo and Mike Moustakas, who mishandled a late-inning bunt, expressed their frustration with the team’s recent struggles.
The Astros’ victory was credited to a clutch single by Mauricio Dubon and an RBI single by Jose Abreu, while J.P. France and Phil Maton delivered solid pitching performances to hold off the Angels’ offense.
Looking ahead, Framber Valdez (7-6, 2.51 ERA) will take the mound for the Astros, hoping to improve his impressive record against the Angels. The Angels will counter with Reid Detmers (2-6, 4.31 ERA), who has shown potential despite his subpar numbers.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding Ohtani’s injuries and the Angels’ playoff chances, both teams will continue to compete and strive for improvement in the second half of the season.
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