Angels right-hander Shohei Ohtani won’t make his previously scheduled start this Sunday because of a blister, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. It’s an issue that has troubled Ohtani since the end of March, but the two-way standout was able to make his first start against the year on April 4, and he has been a regular in the Angels’ lineup at designated hitter. Manager Joe Maddon said Friday (via Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register) that Ohtani can throw with a Band-Aid on, but he’ll need to do so without it before returning to the Angels’ rotation. Ohtani tossed 4 2/3 innings of three-run (one earned) ball with seven strikeouts, five walks and two hits allowed in his season debut on the mound. His production on offense has been tremendous, as Ohtani entered Friday with a line of .280/.333/.600 (154 wRC+) with two home runs and a pair of stolen bases in 27 plate appearances. He smashed a three-run double in his second at-bat against Toronto on Friday and then followed with a solo shot in his next AB.
- The Rangers sent righty reliever Matt Bush to the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his pitching elbow, the team announced. He’ll undergo an MRI, according to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Bush has already undergone Tommy John surgery twice, so if he needs a third procedure, it could be a death blow to his career. The 35-year-old missed the previous two campaign because of arm problems, and though he was able to work his way back to the Rangers’ bullpen this season, he yielded three earned runs in as many innings before going to the IL.
- Lefty Alex Wood’s debut with the Giants may not be far off, as manager Gabe Kapler suggested Friday the team could decide to activate him after his next outing at their alternate site, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. The Giants signed the oft-injured former Brave, Red and Dodger to a $3MM guarantee in free agency, but back troubles have kept him off the mound since last month. He has been working back from an ablation procedure on his spine for the past few weeks.
- Minor League Baseball has suspended free-agent righty David Carpenter for one year for a violation of its Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. Carpenter, 35, logged a 3.69 ERA with various teams in 214 2/3 innings and parts of six seasons from 2011-19. He hasn’t found a new club since the Reds released him last September.
Ohtani only has so many innings in him this year, he has to miss starts somewhere. This isn’t an issue. Nice bases loaded double tonight, and nice HR. He helps the Angels when he pitches and when he doesn’t.
Man he is so impressive to watch
Yah he’s awesome for baseball
Then on top of that he’s got elite level speed on the bases…just a unicorn of an athlete, we love to see it (as long as its not against the A’s, which sadly is all the time)
Would love to see a full healthy season from him and just tear it up.
rip Carpenter’s career
So Shohei hits a killer double which was nearly a salami, then later hits a homer. Let that blister heal. Angels are going to the playoffs!
You just cursed them
I never wish injuries on anybody, but I don’t feel bad at all for Matt Bush.
Dang. My nephew is in the Angels system and has to have his second TJ. I was so hoping he could start working his way up this year. The Angels have two really special players in Trout and Ohtani and I think they may be turning the corner. Could be a fun team to watch this year.
I hear this guy named Anthony Rendon isnt too bad either!
Rendon has done much this year thus far
Matt Bush actually made their team after not being in the league for 3 years? Man a lot of teams this year just aren’t even trying to hide the fact they’re tanking.
How is being 3-3, tanking?
It’s 6 games, man.
yeah its called an injury
holecamels3517 hours ago
Matt Bush actually made their team after not being in the league for 3 years?
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Bush has a career 3.47, so I don’t know what the issue is. Virtually every BP in BB need a guy like that.
But that’s not the important part. The important part is that he missed 2019 & 2020, and you added that up and came up with the answer ‘3’.
The last time it was reported that Ohtani had a blister, he needed Tommy John.
Wrong, last time he had a blister was at the end of spring training
I was being sarcastic.
For god’s sake make Ohtani a full time DH and call it a day!
Ham, why? Worst case scenario, he’s gets hurt pitching, it doesn’t stop him from hitting. And if he was a full time player, they wouldn’t waste him at DH.
Did you not see his last outing? He was dominant over one of the best offenses in baseball. Made the reigning MVP look silly. Good thing you’re not the Angels GM.
Why can’t we all just enjoy nice things while it lasts? Imagine if Babe Ruth was only allowed to be a pitcher.
He’s got great stuff but he will never stay healthy and you may risk losing his bat if he gets injured pitching. I just don’t see it working out long term.
I forgot which person on the MLB network said it. But I like the idea of using Otani as a closer instead of a starter. Still get to maximize his offensive ability and get to see him pitch in the big spots.
I disagree with that. I believe getting up and down and then having to go from the dugout to the bullpen puts more pressure on his arm than pitching once a week.
Having him be a reliever makes zero sense.
The game it was announce he needed TJ surgery, he hit 2 HRs. If he pitches 100, he has a great chance of being MVP. The man is a marvel. I want what’s best for the team and that him in the rotation getting 500 Plate appearances.
Wow…just give him a Silver Slugger, MVP (in both leagues of course) , Cy Young award right now and tell everyone else they just don’t measure up to being a “marvel” like Ohtani! Oh, and if he used his glove for anything other than holding the ball while he pitches, I’m sure he would be defensive player of the year too!
You Angels fans crack the rest of us up!
Rocky, you should change you’re handle to Mr. Hyperbole.
I dunno about all that, @Rocky.
Ohtani is a really talented player, though. The likes of which I – personally – have never seen. He just has all of these high level yet disparate baseball skills slathered all over himself. Bonkers.
I go out of my way to watch him play because I have never seen anyone else like him & I doubt I ever will again.
Well….tired of hearing Angels fans talk about this guy as if he’s the second coming already…thought accolades had to be earned over time….999 at bats, and 58 innings pitched and he’s being deferred to as one of the all time greats…..27 hits over 100 at bats on average so far in his MLB career, and getting 1 start over 6-7 games (his normal workload in Japan) …..as far as his high level baseball skills, yes he certainly is a good player but jeez, how about a little objectivity rather than fawning over his 2 way skills…..lets see him display them over the course of a full year or better yet, not just 1 year but several in a row…..
I think any fan base would be giddy over him. Good heavens, but I’d love him on the Yanks. Particularly, after watching German serve up a couple more gopher balls today.
Yeesh. That guy, man.
But – yeah.
Ohtani needs to put a full season together. I’ll buy that. Hope he does, too.
@rocky7 Man who shoved a stick up your @ss today?lol. Are you mad that the Angels are finally doing good and Shohei Ohtani is finally living up to all the hype? Try not being soo salty next time bud.
The last time I remember a talent on his level coming over it was Ichiro. An absolute joy to watch. Totally different but no less talented. One of the best hitters of all time and an amazing fielder with a rocket for an arm. I guess maybe people complained about the hype for him. I realize he was polar opposite in the injury category, he averaged 159 games for 12 years, that alone is pretty impressive. But really, why not just enjoy a talent on that level regardless of whether you think he’s overhyped or not.
Although a fantastic player, Ichiro was a type I feel I’ve seen before; contact hitting, base swiping, excellent defensive outfielder. True his arm was anomalous. & he did those things at elite levels, but he never struck me as all that unique.
I have no experience with guys who do all the different things Ohtani does on the field, however.
A lot of my fellow Yankee fans have taken a dislike to him because a lot of them feel Miggy should have been the ROY. I’ll not argue with them. But…well, they are wrong.
Yes, I agree.
I’m more comparing the reaction to them than them as players.
I think there’s a strong built in bias in fans, yankees versus certain other teams, east coast versus west coast versus the heartland of the country, etc. I remember when the Cardinals were playing the Royals and the sentiment here on the east coast was complete apathy. What, you don’t care about good baseball unless it’s your team? Kind of makes me crazy.
I, too, obviously, suffer from that delusional set of conclusions at times.
“Fandumb”?
Oh, I can do fandumb for days on end. I’m writing a manual on it.
When I finish my book composed of gibberish and sniglets …
One of us can actually write, and it’s not me.
Wouldn’t be me either, unfortunately.
I’ve dozens & dozens & then more dozens of articles I’ve written for outdoors magazines & absolutely no one has any interest in publishing even just one of them.
So.
I know next to nothing about the outdoors magazine genre, but I do know a little about writing in general, having taught English for 20 years. For what it’s worth, from what I’ve seen of your comments on this site, I think you are both good writers. You communicate clearly and thoughtfully, and with a healthy dose of self-deprecation.
I appreciate the compliment.
& you are correct in that Mr Hazee is a pretty good writer. That’s why I get so irritated with him when he resorts to his “the Yankees do all the steroids” stuff. It’s heavy handed & beneath him in my opinion.
Gets to me & he knows it.
So, it’s definitely on me too. I have no problems making fun of myself because – well – I know me & I can be pretty over the top sometimes, so worthy of laughing at.
Completely off topic but Joe Musgrove threw the first no-hitter in Padres history tonight against the Rangers
damn 2021 really is wild
I saw that, thank you for the cool historical update! It’s probably the most interesting pitching note of the night, so I’m 80% sure it won’t get deleted. Props to the hometown kid who grew up 15 miles from SD.
Wait, what? Over 50 years of no-hit futility erased! As a native San Diegan, I can testify to the immensity of this moment. (I’m serious – I’m not being sarcastic at all.)
Awesome.
Any real baseball fan is happy for Musgrove, the Padres, & their fans. Only watched the highlights, but the kid sure was slingin’ it.
An option, and I’m not advocating this, have Ohtani DH and be the closer.
He can get a special band-aid from Altuve.