Shohei Ohtani Injury News & Updates

Ohtani underwent surgery on his right elbow Tuesday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

A statement made by Ohtani's agent failed to specify what kind of procedure Ohtani received, but it said that he will be able to hit by the start of next season and resume pitching in games in 2025. The two-way phenom slashed .304/.412/.654 -- all career-highs -- with 44 homers across 594 plate appearances this season, and he also maintained a 3.14 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 167 strikeouts through 132 innings on the mound. Ohtani is set to become a free agent this offseason and is certain to spark a bidding war between many teams despite his elbow injury.

Ohtani was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain Saturday, ending his season, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The injury ends not only Ohtani's season but likely his Angels career, with the team's continued failure to mount a serious playoff push during his six years in Anaheim widely expected to lead to his departure in free agency. He'll finish the season with a .304/.412/.654 slash line, representing career highs in all three components, as well as 44 homers and 20 steals. He also won 10 games and finished with a 3.14 ERA and 1.06 WHIP. While he'll undoubtedly inspire quite the bidding war this winter, he'll come with plenty of risk between the oblique issue and the elbow surgery he's expected to undergo after the season.

Ohtani (oblique) cleared out his locked in the Angels' clubhouse Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The team did not provide an explanation following Friday's game, saying that it would provide information regarding Ohtani's status Saturday. Ohtani, who's facing an elbow procedure in the offseason, missed his 11th straight game Friday due to a right oblique injury. He worked out prior to the game in an effort to play, but after his locker was cleaned out, the presumption seems to be that he's shutting it down for the season. Even if this is it for Ohtani, he's arguably still the frontrunner for the AL MVP given his contributions on the mound and with the bat.

Ohtani (oblique) is out of the lineup Friday against the Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani has now been out of the lineup for 11 straight games. He was in the original lineup Monday before being scratched, so perhaps the team believes he can return soon -- explaining the lack of an injured list stint. Randal Grichuk will take a turn at designated hitter while hitting sixth.

Ohtani (oblique) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Seattle, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani has now missed 10 straight starts with right oblique discomfort. The Angels are off Thursday before beginning a homestand Friday. If Ohtani isn't able to play by that point, you've got to think the team will consider shutting him down. The two-way superstar, of course, is dealing with a torn UCL in his right elbow in addition to the oblique issue.

Ohtani (oblique) isn't in the Angels' lineup Tuesday against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani was slated to return to the Angels' lineup Monday, but Tuesday will mark his ninth game missed due to tightness in his right oblique. He continues to be listed as day-to-day, but an IL stint could be in the cards for Ohtani if his condition doesn't improve soon. Matt Thaiss will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and bat sixth Tuesday.

Ohtani (oblique) has been scratched from Monday's game against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani was set to make his return to the starting nine after missing time with a tight right oblique, but he'll be held out at the last moment. Mike Moustakas will take his place in the DH slot and hit fourth.

Ohtani (oblique) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

A tight oblique cost Ohtani a little over a week of action, but he is ready to resume playing. He will serve as the designated hitter and hit second for the Angels on Monday night.

Ohtani (oblique) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

It's the seventh consecutive absence for Ohtani as he continues to manage inflammation in his right oblique. The two-way star won't return to the mound this season due to the torn UCL in his right elbow which will eventually require surgery, but manager Phil Nevin indicated Ohtani could return as the Halos' designated hitter as early as Monday in Seattle, per Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani (oblique) will sit for a sixth straight game Saturday against Cleveland, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani has been absent for the last several days with inflammation in his right oblique, an issue separate from the torn UCL which will eventually require surgery. Between his two ailments and the fact that the Angels are well out of the playoff race, it would hardly be a surprise if Ohtani were to be shut down, but the team still considers him day-to-day.

Ohtani (oblique) isn't in the Angels' lineup Friday against the Guardians, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Manager Phil Nevin said Thursday that Ohtani will return "in a day or two," and it appears the team will opt for the latter. Chad Wallach will fill in as the Angels' designated hitter Friday and bat sixth.

Ohtani (oblique) is not in Thursday's lineup against the Guardians, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani made progress Thursday, as he was spotted running in the outfield and also swung a bat for the first time since Sunday. However, he'll remain out of the lineup for the fourth straight game. Manager Phil Nevin noted that Ohtani could return to action "in a day or two."

Ohtani (oblique) did not wind up taking any swings Wednesday as he had previously hoped to do, Anthony Bautista of The Sporting News reports.

The plan had been for Ohtani to take a few swings in the batting cage to test out his right oblique after tests cleared him of any structural damage. However, after the slugger went to the cage to get loosened up he ultimately decided against it. Angels manager Phil Nevin said Wednesday that there are currently no plans to place Ohtani on the injured list, so it would appear he can still be considered day-to-day for the time being.

Ohtani (oblique) isn't in the Angels' lineup Wednesday against the Orioles.

Tests revealed Wednesday that Ohtani is dealing with inflammation in his right oblique, so he will remain out of the Angels' lineup as he recovers. Matt Thaiss will serve as Los Angeles' DH and bat sixth against Baltimore.

Ohtani remains day-to-day with right oblique tightness, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. "We'll see how he is [Wednesday] when he comes in," manager Phil Nevin said after Tuesday's game. "We'll have a conversation. But I think we dodged a bullet there as far as injury goes."

Tests on Ohtani's oblique showed no strain and "just a tiny bit of inflammation," per Nevin. Ohtani felt something in his oblique while taking batting practice Monday, and despite that, he pushed to play Tuesday. The Angels decided against it, but Ohtani's desire to continue hitting and the team downplaying his latest injury suggest he's not facing an imminent shutdown. That said, his agent announced Monday that Ohtani is facing some sort of procedure on his elbow in the offseason, and the Angels are no longer in playoff contention, so an early shutdown can't be completely ruled out.

Ohtani (oblique) will sit out Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani reportedly wanted to play Tuesday, but manager Phil Nevin opted to keep him on the bench while the team continues to evaluate his oblique injury. A torn UCL in Ohtani's right elbow has already ended his ability to pitch for the rest of the season, and test results on his oblique will determine how long he will be held out of the lineup.

Ohtani (oblique) will undergo further testing Tuesday morning, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani appeared to injure himself on a swing during batting practice, and skipper Phil Nevin stated that as of Monday night, the slugger is "pretty sore," per Fletcher. The team should have a better idea of Ohtani's availability moving forward after getting a look at Tuesday's test results.

Ohtani is being scratched from Monday's lineup against the Orioles, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

The reason behind this lineup change is unclear, though it comes only a few hours after Ohtani's agent, Naz Balelo, held a press conference providing an update on Ohtani's UCL injury and declaring his client is determined to remain a two-way player after recovering from the injury.

Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, stated that surgery of some sort is "inevitable" for his client Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Balelo noted that the tear in Ohtani's elbow ligament is different from last time, and the part that was previously repaired remains intact, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. His medical team is still gathering information on the best strategy for surgery, and in the meantime, it appears Ohtani will continue to hit for the Angels down the stretch of the 2023 campaign. Balelo finished his press conference by stating "Shohei is going to be in somebody's lineup next year, DH-ing when the bell rings. He'll be good to go."

Ohtani went 0-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's loss to Oakland.

Ohtani has gone 10 games without a homer, but he's reached base at a .479 clip over that stretch thanks largely to a 27.1 percent walk rate. The slugger has taken advantage of all the walks by swiping three bags during the homerless span, pushing his season total to 20 thefts. He and Ronald Acuna are the only big-leaguers so far this season with at least 30 homers and 20 steals. Ohtani is now one of eight players in MLB history to put up multiple 40-20 campaigns.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Phillies.

Ohtani reached on an infield single in the third inning, drove in a run on a fifth-inning single, and added an RBI double in the ninth. The 29-year-old superstar compiled an impressive .319/.426/.593 slash line in August, hitting five home runs, eight doubles, 13 RBI, 19 runs and seven steals. While it's certainly disappointing that Ohtani won't be returning to the mound this season due to a torn UCL in his right elbow, his work at the plate serves as a valuable consolation prize.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, two walks, two runs, an RBI and two stolen bases against the Mets in Saturday's 5-3 victory.

Though Ohtani has been ruled out from pitching again this season due to an elbow injury, he's continued to take his spot in the batting order as the Angels' designated hitter. Since being pulled early from the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader, Ohtani has gone 4-for-10 at the dish with three doubles and a triple while starting at DH in each of Los Angeles' three contests. With his two thefts Saturday, the two-way star is up to 19 on the campaign to go along with 44 homers, putting him one steal away from his second career 40-20 effort. Only seven players in MLB history have ever logged multiple 40-20 seasons in their career.

Ohtani is started at designated hitter and batting second in Friday's game versus the Mets, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Ohtani was diagnosed with a torn UCL in his right elbow earlier this week, an injury which will keep him from pitching for the rest of the season, at minimum. He plans to continue hitting, though, at least until a decision is made about possible surgery. Ohtani has clubbed a league-leading 44 home runs this season.

Ohtani has a torn UCL and will not pitch again in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

No decision has been made yet on a Tommy John procedure to repair Ohtani's UCL -- which would be the second of his career -- but he will be shut down as a pitcher for the time being. The two-way star exited Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader due to "arm fatigue," but he was still able to serve as the Angels' designated hitter in the nightcap and will continue to do so going forward, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. Ohtani will finish his season on the mound with a 3.17 ERA and 1.06 WHIP through 130.2 innings across 22 starts.

Ohtani (arm) is starting as the Angels' designated hitter and batting second for the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Reds, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Ohtani was removed from the first game of Wednesday's twin bill -- both on the mound and as a batter -- due to arm fatigue, but he is seemingly healthy enough to remain in Los Angeles' lineup. Arm fatigue has plagued Ohtani often as of late, and it's possible that he ends up taking another extended break from pitching in order to recover.

Ohtani was removed from the first half of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Reds, as both a pitcher and hitter, due to arm fatigue.

Ohtani slugged his 44th home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning before departing from the mound in the top of the second after a short conversation with a trainer. He was then replaced at DH by Nolan Schanuel in the bottom of the third. The two-way superstar has been battling off-and-on fatigue for the last handful of weeks, and Wednesday's truncated start was his first pitching appearance since Aug. 9. He could require another extended break from that element of his game. It's also unclear whether he'll be able to return to DH duties in the second half of Wednesday's twin bill.

Ohtani was removed from his start in the first half of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Reds due to an apparent injury, Greg Beacham of The Associated Press reports.

Ohtani had thrown only 26 pitches before he exited with a trainer in the top of the second inning. He was making his first pitching appearance since Aug. 9 following a two-week break to deal with general fatigue. The two-way superstar tallied two strikeouts across 1.1 scoreless innings prior to Wednesday's early departure. He issued a walk but gave up no hits among the five Cincinnati batters he faced. There should be a status update soon from Angel Stadium.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said that Ohtani will not be under any workload restrictions in his return to the mound Wednesday versus the Reds, Brandon Deutsch of The Sporting Tribune reports.

It will be Ohtani's first start as a pitcher in two weeks, as he had his last outing skipped due to some fatigue. Wednesday's outing will be treated as a normal one, though, so fantasy managers don't have to worry about the superstar's workload being truncated.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and two runs scored in Friday's loss to the Rays.

Ohtani gave the Angels a 5-1 lead with his grand slam in the second inning but it wasn't enough to hold off the Rays. After an eight-game homerless drought, he's gone deep three times in his last five appearances. In 32 games since the All-Star break, Ohtani owns an outstanding 1.149 OPS. His season line is up to .308/.407/.668 with 70 extra-base hits (43 homers) and 89 RBI through 121 games.

Ohtani is scheduled to start Wednesday versus the Reds after skipping his last start due to fatigue, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels elected to play things cautiously with their superstar two-way player this week when he reported some fatigue, but Ohtani is on track to take on the Reds on Aug. 23 in what would be his first start in two weeks. Ohtani hasn't allowed an earned run over his last three starts, although one of them was abbreviated due to a hand cramp.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday in a 2-0 victory versus Texas.

Ohtani set the Angels off to positive start with his 437-foot solo shot in the first inning, and that was all the team needed in a shutout of the AL West frontrunners. The long ball was the two-way star's 42nd of the campaign, placing him one behind MLB leader Matt Olson. Ohtani also notched his first multi-hit performance since Aug. 7, and he got through the game without striking out for the first time in six contests.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Astros.

Ohtani absolutely smoked a slider that wound up traveling 448 feet at 110.2 MPH and put the Angels up 2-0 in the sixth. It wound up being the difference in the ballgame. He also swiped his 17th bag of the year and his fifth already in 12 games in August. Ohtani leads the American League with 41 home runs now and trails only the surging Matt Olson for the league lead (43). Ohtani has been scorching hot at the plate over the last few weeks. In 17 games since July 27, he's slashing .368/.500/.702 with five homers, seven RBI, 14 runs and a 1.202 OPS. He continues to make a strong case for the American League MVP though the Angels remain on the outside looking in for the Wild Card picture.

Ohtani won't make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani isn't dealing with an injury, but he told manager Phil Nevin that he was experiencing some fatigue and will therefore have his next start postponed to Aug. 23 against Cincinnati. It's unclear who will start Wednesday in Ohtani's place, though the recently-activated Griffin Canning seems like a possible candidate.

Ohtani (10-5) allowed an unearned run on three hits and three walks while striking out five over six innings to earn the win Wednesday over the Giants.

Ohtani has allowed just the one unearned run over 19 innings across his last three starts. He also helped his cause a bit at the plate, going 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. The impressive start on the mound lowered his ERA to 3.17 with a 1.06 WHIP and 165:54 K:BB through 130.2 innings across 22 starts. The two-way star's next turn on the mound is expected to be on the road versus the Rangers next week.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Giants.

While Ohtani has homered only once over seven games in August, he's batting .360 (9-for-25) with three steals for the month. He's up to 15 thefts on the year, already the second-highest total for a season in his career. The two-way star is slashing .308/.409/.673 with 40 home runs, 82 RBI, 87 runs scored, 19 doubles and seven triples through 496 plate appearances.

Ohtani is expected to make his next pitching start, which is scheduled to take place Wednesday at home against the Giants, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. Cramping in Ohtani's right hand and fingers resulted in an early exit from his previous start Thursday against Seattle.

There had been some doubt on the part of both Ohtani and the team about whether he'd need to skip a turn in the rotation, but the two-way star has shown enough improvement to avoid that scenario. The cramping issues haven't prevented Ohtani from remaining in the lineup as a batter, as he finished the game as the Angels' DH on Thursday despite being pulled from the mound after the fourth inning and has started both games since.

Ohtani (hand) is serving as the designated hitter and batting second Friday versus the Mariners.

Ohtani was pulled from his start Thursday night against Seattle due to renewed cramping in his right hand, but the issue doesn't seem to affect him at all when he hits. It's unclear when he might take the mound again, but the two-way superstar can keep padding his terrific offensive totals in the meantime.

Ohtani (hand) said after leaving his start Thursday versus the Mariners that he's not sure whether he'll need to skip a turn in the rotation, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani was removed as a pitcher after just four innings (59 pitches) after experiencing cramping in his right middle finger. It is something that has lingered over the last week, but he did remain in Thursday's game as the Angels' designated hitter and went 2-for-2 with a solo homer, two walks and two runs scored in what was a 5-3 victory. He tallied four strikeouts in his four scoreless innings on the mound, scattering three hits and one walk.

Ohtani was removed from his start Thursday versus the Mariners due to cramping in his right hand and fingers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani began feeling the cramps in the top of the fourth inning, though he stayed in the game as the Angels' designated hitter and drew a walk in the bottom of the fourth. Then came an intentional walk in the bottom of the sixth, and he also laced a single to right in the bottom of the first. The two-way superstar finished his pitching duties having scattered three hits and one walk over four scoreless frames. He struck out four.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to Atlanta.

He fanned twice against Spencer Strider, with the first being the right-hander's 200th strikeout of the season, but Ohtani salvaged his night by singling and stealing his 13th bag of the year in the sixth inning, extending his current hitting streak to six games. In addition to his exploits on the mound, the 29-year-old is having the best campaign of his MLB career at the plate, slashing .304/.406/.676 -- personal bests in all three categories -- with a major-league leading 39 homers, plus 81 runs and 81 RBI through 106 contests.

Ohtani (cramps) will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and bat second Saturday against Toronto, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Ohtani has been removed from each of the Angels' last two games due to cramping in his back and both of his calves. While Ohtani may be able to play Saturday, the Angels will likely keep a close eye on him to ensure his recent cramping doesn't develop into a more serious issue. The two-way star is 5-for-18 with four homers, five RBI and seven runs scored in his last five games.

Ohtani was lifted from Friday's game against the Blue Jays in the ninth inning with cramping in both legs, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani homered in the first inning, his 39th of the season, but Michael Stefanic pinch hit for the superstar in the ninth (representing the tying run). Angels manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani will be re-evaluated Saturday. Cramping forced Ohtani from the second game of Thursday's doubleheader as well, after Ohtani pitched a complete game and hit two homers across the twin bill.

Ohtani (cramps) is serving as the Angels' designated hitter and batting second Friday at Toronto.

Ohtani was pulled from the second half of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers due to cramps, but all is well leading into the Angels' three-game weekend set versus the Blue Jays. The two-way superstar has posted a sensational 1.070 OPS with 38 homers, 80 RBI, 12 steals and 79 runs through 101 games this season. He's also pitched to a 3.43 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 156:50 K:BB in 20 starts covering 120.2 innings.

Ohtani is expected to be in the lineup to serve as the designated hitter Friday against Blue Jays, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani exited the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers with cramping, but the issue doesn't appear to be serious. He had an incredible day, pitching a complete-game shutout in the first contest before blasting two homers in the latter matchup before his exit.

Ohtani was removed from Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader against Detroit due to cramping, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani put up a performance for the ages Thursday, pitching a complete-game shutout in Game 1 and blasted two homers during the nightcap. He seemed to be grabbing at his back while rounding the bases after his second home run and was later pinch hit for. Fantasy managers should consider Ohtani day-to-day for now.

Ohtani will serve as the Angels' starting pitcher in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with the Tigers, MLB.com reports.

Heading into the week, Ohtani had been scheduled to take the hill for Friday's series opener in Toronto, but the Angels opted to move him up a day after Wednesday's postponement created a twin bill for the series finale in Detroit. Ohtani will bat second for the Angels in Game 1, and manager Phil Nevin already indicated that the two-way superstar will serve as the Angels' designated hitter in Game 2. Ohtani should have a busy day ahead of him Thursday, and expect the Angels to get everything they can out of the pending free agent over the next two months after Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reported Wednesday that the Halos have elected to take the 29-year-old off the trade market.

The Angels took Ohtani off the trade market Wednesday, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reports.

After weeks of speculation ahead of the August 1 trade deadline, it appears Ohtani will stay put in Anaheim as the Angels look to contend for a playoff spot. Although Ohtani is currently having his worst statistical season on the mound (3.71 ERA, 1.12 WHIP), he's been a nightmare for opposing pitchers while slashing .299/.398/.668 with 36 homers and 77 RBI.

Ohtani will start the first game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani had been lined up to work Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays, but the Angels will move him up a day following Wednesday's rainout in Detroit. It's a far more favorable matchup for the two-way superstar. Patrick Sandoval will work the nightcap of Thursday's twin-bill at Comerica Park and Chase Silseth will likely get the nod Friday versus Toronto.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in Sunday's 7-5 win over Pittsburgh.

After Bryan Reynolds went deep in the first inning to give the Pirates an early lead, Ohtani responded with a solo shot in the bottom of the frame to tie things up. The long ball was the 36th of the campaign for the two-way star, moving him four homers ahead of Matt Olson for the major-league lead. Ohtani has been on a torrid power surge over his past 39 games, slugging 21 home runs and driving in 36 runs while slashing .348/.472/.894 over that span.

Ohtani (8-5) allowed five runs on six hits and a walk while striking out nine over 6.1 innings to earn the win Friday over the Pirates.

Ohtani has battled various issues on his right middle finger for weeks, but he was able to throw 87 pitches (60 strikes) in this start. The results were mediocre -- he allowed four home runs, two of which came from Pittsburgh top prospect Henry Davis. At the plate, Ohtani went 0-for-1 with three walks and two runs scored to help his own cause. The two-way star is at a 3.71 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 148:47 K:BB through 111.2 innings over 19 starts. He also has a .305/.400/.676 slash line across 96 contests as a hitter. Ohtani is tentatively lined up for a road start in Toronto if the Angels don't trade him or hold him out for asset protection ahead of the Aug. 1 trade deadline.

Ohtani is scheduled to make his next start as a pitcher Friday against the Pirates at Angel Stadium, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.

Ohtani developed a blister and a cracked nail during his most recent outing last Friday versus the Astros, but it hasn't prevented him from serving as the Angels' designated hitter in each of the subsequent five days while going 6-for-17 with three home runs and eight walks. The finger apparently hasn't bothered him during any throwing work he's been able to do over the last few days as well, so he's not expected to face any restrictions as he toes the rubber Friday. The upcoming start could be Ohtani's last with the Angels if the team opts to trade the impending free agent ahead of the Aug. 1 deadline.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double and a walk in Monday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Yankees.

Ohtani continues to pummel the ball -- he's knocked four homers during his active six-game hitting streak. The two-way superstar had a chance at the cycle Monday, but struck out in the ninth inning to fall a triple shy of the feat. His homer Monday was his 35th of the campaign, surpassing his total from 157 contests last year in just 93 games this season. He's 11 shy of matching his career high from 2021. Ohtani has maintained a superb .306/.391/.677 slash line with 75 RBI, 68 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 16 doubles and six triples.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in a loss to the Astros on Sunday.

Ohtani extended his MLB homer lead in the ninth inning with a solo shot to center field that brought the Angels to within one run. The two-way star has gone deep three times in his past four contests, driving in five runs over that span. Ohtani has already tied his long ball total from last season and is 12 homers away from the career-high 46 he swatted during his MVP 2021 campaign.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 13-12 extra-inning win over the Astros.

Ohtani continues to be hampered on the mound by a blister and cracked fingernail on his right middle finger, but it's not slowing him down at the plate. He's gone 7-for-17 over his last four contests with two homers, four RBI and a triple in that span. The two-way superstar is slashing .302/.386/.661 with 33 homers, 72 RBI, 65 runs scored and 11 stolen bases over 91 contests as a hitter. Manager Phil Nevin also indicated Ohtani should be able to make his next scheduled pitching start, which is tentatively expected to be against the Pirates as long as his troublesome finger cooperates.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Saturday that he expects Ohtani (finger) to make his next start, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani's right middle finger has been giving him problems across his last three starts, but it doesn't seem like it will cost him any playing time on the mound. While Ohtani's pitching performance has dipped recently to the tune of a 5.51 ERA and 1.53 WHIP over his last three outings, he is still slashing .349/.442/.860 with six homers, nine RBI and 11 runs scored since June 27.

Ohtani (finger) will bat second and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Astros, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Ohtani has been dealing with a blister and a cracked nail, which forced him to exit his start Friday against the Astros early. It's possible his bothersome finger winds up delaying his next start, but it won't affect his ability to hit, at least not to the point that the Angels feel compelled to rest him.

Ohtani left Friday's game against the Astros with a trainer in the top of the sixth inning, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

While manager Phil Nevin said pregame that he did not expect any more problems with Ohtani's troublesome right middle finger, it was seemingly the culprit behind the megastar's early exit Friday. He's been dealing with a blister and a cracked nail on the finger. Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register notes that Ohtani's velocity was down and his command was off prior to exiting. Ohtani allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out seven over five innings.

Ohtani threw a bullpen session Thursday and had no issues with his finger, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani's right middle finger had been giving him trouble over his past couple of starts. Most recently, he exited his start July 4 against San Diego due to a blister after surrendering five runs over five innings. Luckily, it seems the issue has subsided, and Ohtani should be able to return to his dominant self during his start Friday against Houston.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a triple and three total RBI in Saturday's 10-5 loss to the Dodgers.

Not only did Ohtani extend his major-league lead in homers with his 32nd of the year, he also took sole possession of first place in triples with his sixth three-bagger. He had just two hits over his first six games in July, though he's been dealing with various finger issues over the last week-plus that have mostly affected his pitching. As a batter, the two-way star concludes the first half with a stellar .302/.387/.663 slash line, 71 RBI, 63 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 89 games.

Ohtani (finger) is in the Angels' lineup Wednesday in San Diego, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani had to be removed from Tuesday's start on the mound because of a blister on his right middle finger, but it won't cost him a start at designated hitter. He is batting third against Seth Lugo and the Padres.

Ohtani was removed from Tuesday's start against the Padres due to a blister on his right middle finger.

The Angels specified Ohtani was removed as the pitcher, so he's still able to serve as the team's designated hitter Tuesday. Ohtani had been dealing with a cracked fingernail on the same finger during his previous start, but he was able to continue hitting between mound appearances. He's not scheduled to make another start until after the All-Star break, so it's possible his playing time as both a hitter and pitcher don't take much of a hit.

Ohtani was pulled from his start Tuesday against the Padres with an apparent injury, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

After Ohtanit gave up back-to-back homers to Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth in the sixth inning, Angels trainers came out to take a look at his cracked fingernail -- the same thing that caused Ohtani to leave his previous start June 27. More updates on his status will come shortly, but fantasy managers should consider Ohtani day-to-day in the meantime.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks.

After clobbering 15 home runs over 27 games in June, Ohtani began July with an 0-for-4 effort. He was right back to his slugging ways in his second game of the month, tacking on an insurance run with his eighth-inning blast. He leads the majors with 31 long balls while maintaining a stellar .306/.390/.670 slash line with 68 RBI, 61 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 84 contests. While he's dealt with a cracked fingernail over the last week, the two-way star is expected to take his next turn on the mound Tuesday versus the Padres.

Ohtani (fingernail) will start Tuesday's game against the Padres, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Ohtani exited his start Tuesday against the White Sox with a trainer due to a cracked fingernail. He's since been cleared to take his next turn through the rotation, though he will be pushed back one day -- swapping places with Jaime Barria.

Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs in Friday's loss to the Diamondbacks.

The Angels' offense was mostly stagnant throughout the contest, but Ohtani provided a big highlight with his 493-foot homer -- the longest of his major-league career -- in the sixth inning. The two-way star mashed his way to an incredible June, slashing .394/.492/.952 with a franchise single-month record 15 home runs along with seven doubles, three triples, 29 RBI, 27 runs and four stolen bases. For good measure, he posted a 2-2 record as a pitcher, compiling a 3.26 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 37:11 K:BB over 30.1 innings. Ohtani's huge month has catapulted him to the top of the MLB home-run leaderboard with 30, and there's certainly a chance that he could challenge the AL record of 62 long balls in a season that Aaron Judge established last year.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Thursday's 9-7 loss to the White Sox.

Ohtani made things interesting in the ninth inning, cutting the Angels' deficit to 9-7 with a two-out, two-run shot off Kendall Graveman. It's Ohtani's 14th homer in 26 games this month, boosting his league-leading total to 29. The longball also extended his hit streak to seven games -- he's gone 14-for-30 (.467) with a 1.663 OPS in that span. Ohtani is on pace for a career season, even by his standards -- he's slashing .309/.392/.666 with 66 RBI, 58 runs scored and 11 steals through 360 plate appearances

Ohtani is still scheduled to start Monday against the Padres despite his cracked fingernail, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was pulled from his start Tuesday due to a cracked fingernail, but remained in the game as Los Angeles' designated hitter. While it doesn't seem like he'll miss his next start, it's possible the Angels push Ohtani back by a couple days if his nail is still bothering him by then.

Ohtani left Tuesday's start versus against the White Sox with a trainer, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

While Ohtani is no longer on the mound, Weston reports that it looks like he'll stay in to hit as the designated hitter. Before leaving, Ohtani threw 6.1 innings without allowing a run, and he fanned 10 hitters while issuing two walks while giving up just four hits. Jacob Webb has taken over for Ohtani on the mound.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base in Monday's 2-1 win against the White Sox.

Ohtani walloped a massive 446-foot solo shot in the fourth inning that stood as the only Angels run until they walked it off in the bottom of the ninth. The long ball was the 11th over his past 19 games, a stretch during which Ohtani has catapulted to the top of the MLB leaderboard with 26 homers on the campaign. The two-way star also leads the league with 62 RBI and is the only player in the majors with 20 or more homers and at least 10 thefts.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a double in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Rockies.

Ohtani had hit a small rough patch by going 0-for-7 across two games against the Dodgers this week, but he rebounded Friday while coming up a triple shy of the cycle. He's up to 25 homers on the year, 10 of which have come in his last 16 games as he's surged to the major-league lead, now two ahead of the Mets' Pete Alonso. Ohtani is slashing .298/.381/.630 with 59 RBI, 50 runs scored, 15 doubles, three triples and 10 stolen bases over 75 contests as a batter in another remarkable campaign.

Ohtani (6-3) allowed one run on five hits and two walks while striking out 12 over seven innings, but he took the loss Wednesday versus the Dodgers.

Ohtani also went 0-for-3 at the plate, and Luis Rengifo had the only two hits for the Angels in a 2-0 loss. The one blemish on Ohtani's line was Freddie Freeman's fourth-inning solo home run. This was Ohtani's fifth start with 10-plus strikeouts this season. The strong outing lowered his ERA to 3.13 with a 1.04 WHIP and 117:37 K:BB over 89 innings through 15 starts. The two-way star is next expected to take the mound at home versus the White Sox next week.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-2 win against Kansas City.

Ohtani gave the Angels their first lead of the game with a fifth-inning two-run shot that was immediately followed by a Mike Trout blast. Ohtani has been on quite a power surge of late, homering in four of his past five contests and belting eight long balls across his past 10 games. He's in the midst of an MLB-best 15-game hitting streak, slashing .446/.543/.1.071 with nine homers, 20 RBI, 16 runs and three steals over that span. The two-way star leads the majors with 24 home runs on the season.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's loss to the Royals.

Ohtani hit a massive 437-foot two-run shot to center field in the seventh inning to give Los Angeles an 8-2 lead. However, Kansas City stormed back over the final three frames to pull out the win. Ohtani has been swinging a red-hot bat of late, putting together a 14-game hitting streak during which he is slashing .462/.561/1.077 with eight homers, 18 RBI, 15 runs, three steals and a 13:9 BB:K. The scorching stretch has pushed Ohtani ahead of the injured Pete Alonso (wrist) for the MLB home-run lead with 23 on the campaign.

Ohtani (6-2) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over six innings in a 5-3 victory over the Rangers. He struck out three.

Ohtani tied his season low in strikeouts while Thursday's tilt marked his first outing with fewer than five punchouts since May 3rd. However, he managed to pick up his first win in his last six appearances to notch his eighth quality start of the campaign. Though Ohtani has taken a step back from his incredible 2022 season, where he tallied a 2.33 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 219 strikeouts across 166 innings, he's remained a strong source of strikeouts (11.52 K/9) while totaling a 3.29 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 82 innings in 2023. Ohtani is in line for another tough matchup next time he takes the mound, which is expected to come during a two-game homestand versus the Dodgers.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in Wednesday's 6-3 loss to the Rangers.

Ohtani made things interesting in the ninth inning, launching a two-run, 453-foot shot off Will Smith to cut the Angels' deficit to 6-3. Ohtani has been red hot of late -- he's hit safely in 11 straight contests, including four straight multi-hit games, going 21-for-43 (.488) with six homers in that span. He's up to 21 homers this season, one shy of Pete Alonso for the league lead. Ohtani's now slashing a robust .299/.377/.610 with 52 RBI, 45 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with two home runs, a walk and four RBI in Monday's 9-6 win over the Rangers in 12 innings.

Ohtani came up big in the clutch late in Monday's series opener, with his seventh-inning solo blast tying the game at 5-5. He then gave the Angels the lead in the top of the 12th, sending a Cole Ragans offering to the opposite field for a two-run home run. The long ball was his eighth in the last 13 games and his 20th overall of the season, allowing him to overtake the Yankees' Aaron Judge for the MLB lead.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners.

Ohtani stretched his hitting streak to seven games, and he's gone 12-for-28 (.429) with three homers and eight RBI in that span. The 28-year-old superstar's long ball Saturday was the Angels' lone run-scoring play. The surge at the plate has lifted Ohtani's slash line to .281/.355/.570 with 18 homers, 46 RBI, 39 runs scored and nine stolen bases through 64 contests.

Ohtani allowed three runs on three hits and five walks while striking out six over five innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday. He also went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double at the plate.

The five walks allowed matched a season high for Ohtani, who needed 97 pitches (53 strikes) to get through the five-inning start. He was at least able to help his own cause with a third-inning homer while coming up a triple shy of the cycle. Ohtani's given up three homers and eight runs over his last 11 innings, and he's gone four starts without a win. He's at a 3.43 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 102:34 K:BB through 76 innings this season. The two-way star is also slashing .282/.356/.563 with 17 homers, 44 RBI, nine stolen bases and 38 runs scored over 63 contests. His next pitching start is projected to be at Texas next week.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and a walk in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Cubs.

Ohtani tried to manufacture a run in the fifth inning, but he was left on third base after a walk and two steals. He's knocked five extra-base hits, four RBI and four runs scored over his modest four-game hitting streak. Ohtani continues to be a reliable five-category producer at the plate, hitting .275 with 16 home runs, nine steals, 42 RBI and 37 runs scored through 61 games. He's added a .904 OPS, 11 doubles and three triples.

Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks and two total runs scored in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Cubs.

Ohtani has gone 10-for-27 (.370) with four homers and nine RBI over his last seven contests. The two-way star's blast in the fourth inning woke up the Angels' offense. He's posted a strong .276/.352/.552 slash line with 16 long balls, 42 RBI, 37 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 10 doubles and three triples through 60 games this season. He was back in the No. 2 spot Tuesday after a three-game stint at leadoff, but he's a good bet to have success from anywhere in the lineup.

Ohtani went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple two runs and two RBI in Saturday's loss to the Astros.

Ohtani came up a homer short of a cycle, finishing with his second four-hit game of the campaign. His third-inning triple gave the Angels their first run, and the two-way star notched another RBI with a double in the seventh. Ohtani has added to his excellent work on the mound with another big season at the plate -- through 253 plate appearances, he's slashing .274/.348/.540 with 15 homers, 40 RBI, 35 runs and seven stolen bases.

Ohtani (5-2) allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out six over six innings to take the loss Friday versus the Astros. He also went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts as a batter.

Ohtani couldn't get much going on either side of the ball Friday. He's had continued troubles with the long ball -- this was the fourth time in his last seven starts that he's allowed multiple home runs. In those four starts, he's given up a combined 19 runs over 23 innings. Ohtani's now gone three starts without a win, and his ERA is up to 3.30 with a 1.01 WHIP and 96:29 K:BB through 71 innings over 12 starts. The two-way star is next scheduled to take the mound versus the Mariners next week.

Ohtani is at DH and batting leadoff Friday in Houston.

Ohtani is also serving as the Angels' starting pitcher Friday night against the Astros. This will be the first look at leadoff in 2023 for the two-way sensation, who had exclusively hit third in his previous 56 games. He boasts an .872 OPS to go along with a 2.91 ERA.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two homers, three runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's 12-5 win over the White Sox.

Ohtani has now hit three homers in his last two games after blasting a pair of two-run shots off Lance Lynn on Wednesday. The 28-year-old Ohtani had been slumping a bit at the plate prior to his recent power surge -- he'd been batting just .148 (8-for-54) over his previous 14 contests. He's now slashing .269/.345/.538 with 15 homers, 38 RBI and seven stolen bases through 243 plate appearances this season.

Ohtani allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out 10 over six innings in a no-decision versus the Marlins on Saturday. He also went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base as a batter.

Ohtani racked up double-digit strikeouts for the fourth time this season and the first time in his last four starts. He's up to seven quality starts in 11 outings on the mound while posting a 2.91 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 90:28 K:BB over 65 innings. Ohtani has slumped a bit at the plate lately, going just 4-for-29 (.138) with a 4:10 BB:K as a hitter over his last eight games. He's up to seven steals, 12 home runs, 33 RBI, 28 runs scored and a .269/.344/.513 slash line at the plate. Ohtani's next pitching start is tentatively scheduled for a road date in Houston next week.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's victory over the Red Sox.

Ohtani clubbed a 420-foot homer in the third inning for his only hit of the night. He is on pace for his third straight season of 30 home runs or more. Ohtani has been remarkably consistent this season, as he posted an .897 OPS in April and sits at .877 for the month of May. He is on pace to top 90 runs and 90 RBI this season.

Ohtani allowed one run on two hits and three walks over six innings during Sunday's win over Minnesota. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision. At the plate, he went 1-for-3 with a walk.

After several rough starts, Ohtani was back to his usual self on the mound Sunday. He allowed one run in the third inning but otherwise faced little threat from the Twins. Ohtani ended his outing with four consecutive strikeouts and totaled 22 whiffs on 99 pitches. He'd allowed at least three runs in four straight outings entering Sunday but he still owns a strong 3.05 ERA for the year. His next start is currently projected to be at home against the Marlins.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Twins.

Ohtani has homered three times over his last six games, going 7-for-25 (.280) with six RBI in that span. For the season, the two-way star is up to 11 homers, 32 RBI, 27 runs scored, six stolen bases, eight doubles and two triples with a .286/.357/.543 slash line over 45 contests. He's scheduled to start on the mound Sunday in the series finale versus Minnesota.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI against the Orioles in a 6-5 win Thursday.

Ohtani put the Angels on the board with a solo shot in the first inning, and he capped his performance with an infield single that plated the game-winning run in the eighth. The two-way star is up to 10 long balls on the campaign, which puts him in a three-way tie for the team lead. Ohtani has added 31 RBI, 26 runs and six stolen bases along with a .292/.362/.542 slash line as a hitter.

Ohtani (neck) is in the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game in Baltimore.

Ohtani dealt with some neck stiffness Monday as he pulled double duty on the mound and in the batter's box in the Angels' victory. It won't keep him from serving as the designated hitter Tuesday, though, as he bats third against Dean Kremer.

Ohtani (5-1) earned the win after allowing five runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over seven innings Monday against the Orioles. He also went 4-for-5 with a three-run home run, a triple, a walk and three runs scored at the plate. After the game, Ohtani stated that he experienced some stiffness in his neck, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani appeared uncomfortable at times while on the mound Monday night, but he noted after the contest that he doesn't believe it's anything serious. "As of now it feels alright," said Ohtani. "Gotta see how it feels tomorrow." The Angels are sure to monitor their star two-way player closely moving forward and would likely hold him out Tuesday if there are any concerns.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base Sunday in a loss to Cleveland.

Ohtani knocked an RBI single in the ninth inning to bring the Angels to within two runs, and he then moved into scoring position by stealing second base. The theft was the sixth of the campaign for the two-way star, though it was his first in over two weeks. Ohtani has also slugged eight homers, so he's currently on pace for the second 20-20 campaign of his career.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to Houston on Wednesday.

Ohtani connected on a two-run shot off Astros closer Ryan Pressly in the ninth inning to bring the Angels to within a run, but the team was unable to complete the comeback. The long ball was the first so far in May for the two-way star, though he's otherwise performed well with a .290 average, three doubles and six RBI this month. Ohtani is up to eight homers on the campaign, tied for second on the Angels behind Hunter Renfroe (10).

Ohtani (4-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks over seven innings in a 3-1 loss to the Astros. He struck out seven.

Ohtani produced a quality start, but was out-dueled by Framber Valdez and picked up his first loss of the season. The Astros pushed three runs across in the fifth inning off a Martin Maldonado homer and Yordan Alvarez single. Ohtani has a 2.74 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 46 innings this season. At the plate, Ohtani didn't pick up a hit in three at bats.

Ohtani did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and one walk over five innings against the Cardinals. He struck out 13.

Ohtani now leads the league with 59 strikeouts on the season. The two-way superstar is also tied for seventh with a 0.87 WHIP. However, the right-hander has now allowed nine runs over his last 11 innings, after allowing just two runs over his previous five starts. The former AL MVP is tentatively slated to face the Astros at home in his next start.

Ohtani is absent from the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game in St. Louis.

It's a rare day off for the two-way superstar. Ohtani is slated to start Wednesday's game on the mound and presumably will be in the lineup at designated hitter, as well.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in a 3-0 win against the Brewers.

Ohtani went deep in the third inning, launching an absolute moonshot that landed 413 feet away from home plate and travelled 162 feet high, per David Adler of MLB.com. The long ball was the two-way star's seventh of the campaign and extended his hitting streak to five games. Over that span, Ohtani has been red hot, slashing .455/.478/.864 with two homers, five RBI, four runs and two stolen bases.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a pair of stolen bases in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.

All three of Ohtani's hits Saturday were singles, allowing him multiple opportunities to utilize his speed on the basepaths. The two-way star stole second and then third base in the eighth inning, but the Angels were unable to bring him home. Ohtani has five thefts on the campaign to pair with his six homers. He's one of 10 players in MLB to thus far collect at least five in each category.

Ohtani (4-0) earned the win over Oakland on Thursday, allowing five runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight batters over six innings. He also went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, two runs and an RBI at the plate.

Ohtani started out the game on fire, retiring each of the first nine batters he faced, including five by strikeout. However, he uncharacteristically unraveled in the fourth frame, hitting two batters, issuing two walks, uncorking two wild pitches and serving up two homers as Oakland put up five runs. To his credit. Ohtani bounced back by retiring six of the final seven batters he faced, and he was rewarded with a victory for his efforts. The two-way star contributed to his win on the mound with a big day at the dish, falling a homer shy of the cycle and nearly completing the feat when he fell a few feet short of leaving the park in the eighth inning.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a home run and three total RBI on Wednesday against the Athletics in an 11-3 win.

Ohtani got involved in the offense late in the game, singling home a run in the sixth inning and slamming a two-run homer in the eighth. The multi-hit performance was his second over his past four contests, a span during which he's gone 5-for-16 with a pair of long balls, five RBI and two stolen bases. Ohtani ranks second on the Angels in both homers (six) and RBI (16) through the team's first 25 games.

Ohtani went 0-for-4 with two stolen bases in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Athletics.

Ohtani reached base in the fifth via a fielder's choice and wound up stealing second and third but would not score. It was a quiet day for him otherwise, and he's now slashing .253/.327/.460 with five homers, 13 RBI, 14 runs and a 10:24 BB:K over 98 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two total RBI in a 4-3 win against the Royals on Sunday.

Ohtani plated the Angels' first run with a first-inning sacrifice fly. He then followed back-to-back jacks by Taylor Ward and Mike Trout in the sixth with a homer of his own. The performance snapped a four-game slump at the plate during which Ohtani had gone 1-for-16 with no RBI.

Ohtani (3-0) earned the win Friday, as he didn't allow a run on two hits and two walks over seven innings against the Royals. He struck out 11.

Ohtani dazzled Friday punching out a season-high 11 while lowering his ERA to 0.64 and his WHIP to 0.82. The two-way star has been incredible as a pitcher this season. The opposing lineups will get tougher, as he has faced the A's, Royals and Nationals in three of his first five starts. But his next start is currently scheduled to be a rematch with Oakland.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a 2-run homer and a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Yankees.

Ohtani wasted no time making an impact Tuesday. He took a hanging breaking ball from Clarke Schmidt and sent it out over the right field wall in a hurry to give the Angels a 2-0 lead. It was his fourth home run of the season and put him up to 11 RBI. The 28-year-old has been seeing the ball well over the first few weeks and is now slashing .300/.382/.533 to go with a 0.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and a 27:13 K:BB through 21 innings.

Ohtani's next scheduled start has been moved up to Friday against the Royals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was was originally scheduled to pitch again Sunday against the Royals, but after throwing just 31 pitches Monday because of weather against the Red Sox the right-hander will get bumped up a couple extra days. Ohtani has been outstanding over his four starts with a 0.86 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 27:13 K:BB over 21 innings of work.

When asked if Ohtani's next pitching start could get moved up after the two-way star tossed only 31pitches against Boston on Monday, Angels manager Phil Nevin said, "We'll talk about it," Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani completed two innings against the Red Sox before a rain delay that lasted nearly 90 minutes. Nevin opted not to risk an injury to his star hurler by putting him back on the mound, so his outing was over after just 31 pitches. It stands to reason that Ohtani won't need as much time as usual to recover between starts, though Nevin's comments suggest that Angels aren't yet certain whether they'll push his next appearance up.

Ohtani did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing zero runs (one earned) through two hitless innings with one walk in the win over the Red Sox. He struck out three.

The 28-year-old exited the game after two hitless innings due to a prolonged rain delay. Ohtani gave up a walk to the Red Sox leadoff hitter and threw two wild pitches, which led to a run-scoring groundout by Rob Refsnyder in the first inning. Despite his short performance, Ohtani was still impressive and boasts a 0.86 ERA with only two earned runs and 37 strikeouts in 21 innings. He is tentatively set to start again this weekend against Kansas City.

Ohtani is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Nationals.

Ohtani is out of the lineup after pitching Tuesday and limiting the Nationals to one hit over seven scoreless frames. Mike Trout will be the designated hitter for the Angels while Brett Phillips gets the start in center. Ohtani should be back in the lineup Friday against the Red Sox.

Ohtani (2-0) earned the win Tuesday with six strikeouts over seven scoreless innings against the Nationals, allowing one hit and five walks with six strikeouts. At the plate he went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.

The 28-year-old battled his command throughout the contest and threw 55 of 92 pitches for strikes, but CJ Abrams' fourth-inning double was the only hit against him. Ohtani has given up just one run in his first three turns through the rotation and has struck out 24 batters in 19 frames, though he's also issued 12 walks. According to Sam Blum of The Athletic, Ohtani will step out of the lineup for the first time this season Wednesday.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run, a walk and two additional runs scored during Sunday's 12-11 loss to the Blue Jays.

Ohtani scored on an Anthony Rendon single during the opening frame and extended the Halos lead to 5-0 with a two-run homer during the third inning, but the Blue Jays stormed back to take the game and series win. Through nine games this season the two-way star has a .333/.436/.667 slash line with three home runs and nine RBI, and he's been dominant on the mound in two starts with a 0.75 ERA and 18:7 K:BB over 12 innings.

Ohtani (1-0) earned the win over Seattle on Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over six innings. At the plate, he went 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI.

Ohtani struggled early in the contest, walking the first two batters he faced before giving up a run-scoring single. He managed to get out of the first inning having allowed just that one run, and although Ohtani yielded five more baserunners in the subsequent two frames, Seattle was unable to score again while he was in the game. The two-way star clearly didn't have his best control Wednesday -- he issued four walks in total and also hit two batters in addition to uncorking a wild pitch -- so it's impressive that he was able to manage both a quality start and a win. Ohtani has impressed as both a pitcher and a hitter this season, allowing just one run and posting an 18:7 K:BB over 12 innings from the mound and posting a .286/.400/.571 slash line with two homers at the plate.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Monday in a 7-3 win over the Mariners.

Ohtani broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning with a 431-foot, two-run shot to center field. It was his second homer in as many days and gave him at least one hit in each of the four games in which he has played this season. Ohtani is slashing .294/.333/.647 with five RBI and three runs through 18 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Athletics.

The Angels' two superstars put the finishing touches on the game's scoring in the fifth inning, when Mike Trout and Ohtani took starter Ken Waldichuk yard in back-to-back plate appearances. The home run was the first of the season for Ohtani, who has four hits in 12 at-bats through the Angels' first three games. He'll likely serve as a designated hitter for the Angels' first two games of the week in Seattle before stepping back on the mound for his second start of the season in Wednesday's series finale with the Mariners.

Ohtani did not factor into the decision Thursday against Oakland, completing six scoreless innings and allowing two hits and three walks while striking out 10. He went 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate.

Ohtani was a bit wild in the season opener, throwing 38 of his 93 pitches for balls and walking three batters. Aside from that, the two-way star was as dominant as ever, racking up 13 swinging strikes en route to 10 punchouts. Ohtani recorded 10 double-digit strikeout performances last season, and after leading Japan to a title in the World Baseball Classic this spring, he already looks primed to build upon the career-best pitching numbers he posted on the mound with the Angels in 2022.

Ohtani struck out eight over four innings in a minor-league start against the Diamondbacks on Friday.

Ohtani allowed four hits in the contest, with one of those being a homer by Gavin Conticello. He threw 78 pitches in the contest while issuing one walk along with the aforementioned eight strikeouts. Ohtani is scheduled to start Opening Day against the Athletics on Thursday, and the former MVP should again be a two-way stalwart for the 2023 season.

Ohtani is set to start Opening Day against the Athletics on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Although many of his fellow athletes that participated in the World Baseball Classic are taking time to ramp up their activities early in the season, Ohtani will toe the rubber in the season-opener fresh off of a WBC championship win with Japan. The uber-talented 28-year-old produced a impressive 2.33 ERA and 1.01 WHIP with 219 strikeouts over 166 innings in 28 starts with the Angels last season.

Ohtani's next start start will come Friday in a minor-league game, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani will pitch in a game on the backfields in Arizona where the Angels will be able to contribute the environment. The two-way star is returning to spring camp after winning MVP for his work on the mound and with the bat in the World Baseball Classic that saw Japan take home it's third WBC title in five tries. Ohtani likely won't pitch in any more Cactus League games with the season just a week away, but he looks ready to roll for a a big 2023 campaign.

Ohtani fired a scoreless inning with a strikeout to pick up a save to give Team Japan a 3-2 win over Team USA in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic final.

That strikeout was notable, as Ohtani fanned Mike Trout to end the tournament and give Japan their third WBC title in five tournaments. He did walk Jeff McNeil, but then got Mookie Betts to hit into a double play before fanning his Los Angeles teammate. Ohtani, Trout and the rest of the MLB players will now had to their spring training homes to get ready for the season.

Ohtani could be available to pitch Monday in the World Baseball Classic against Team USA if Team Japan advances to the final, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

Team Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama said that it's a non zero chance that the two-way star would be able to pitch if Japan was able to defeat Mexico in the semifinal. Angels manager Phil Nevin had told reporters that Ohtani was unlikely to pitch past the quarterfinals, but the right-hander hurler told reporters shortly after that a decison hasn't been made. If Ohtani does pitch, it likely would be a short outing; possibly as a relief option to close out the game.

Angels manager Phil Nevin said Monday that Ohtani's final appearance as a pitcher in the WBC would come in the quarterfinals, but Ohtani subsequently indicated that such a decision hasn't yet been made, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The report comes by way of Japanese journalist Naoyuki Yanagihara of Sports Nippon Newspapers. Ohtani is expected to pitch for Japan against Italy in a quarterfinal matchup early Thursday morning, and if that is indeed his final outing on the mound in the WBC, it would prevent him from throwing in a potential championship game in Miami on Tuesday, March 21. From a scheduling standpoint, Nevin's direction makes sense, as Ohtani typically pitches on five days of rest, and there would be four days between Japan's quarterfinal contest and the championship game (if the team makes it that far). Given Ohtani's response to word of Nevin's comments, however, it may not be set in stone that the star hurler would keep off the mound in a potential title game.

Ohtani pitched four scoreless innings for Japan against China in the World Baseball Classic on Thursday, allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five batters. He also went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and two RBI as a hitter.

Ohtani unsurprisingly starred for Team Japan in the squad's 8-1 victory, as he once again demonstrated his immense talent both on the mound and at the plate. This was the second time he's started a game as a pitcher this spring, with the other being in a Cactus League contest March 1 during which he hurled 2.1 scoreless frames. Where Ohtani is being drafted in fantasy is partly dependent on how he's able to be utilized, but he's unlikely to fall out of the first round in any format.

Ohtani is in Japan to prepare for the World Baseball Classic, Ben Verlander of Fox Sports reports.

Ohtani made his spring pitching debut for the Angels on Tuesday, hurling 2.1 scoreless innings against Oakland and allowing no hits and two walks while striking out two batters. He made his way back to his native country soon thereafter, and he'll now shift his focus to helping Japan vie for the WBC title. The tournament will take place from March 8 to March 21, so Ohtani will likely be away from the Angels for the next several weeks.

Ohtani has been named the Angels' Opening Day starter.

He'll get the ball on March 30 in Oakland and is also lined up to pitch the home opener on April 7 against the Blue Jays. The plan is for Ohtani to start on five days' rest regularly in 2023 after he made 16 of 28 starts on six or more days of rest in 2022. He actually performed better last season when going on five days' rest, posting a 1.61 ERA over 12 starts.

Ohtani will make his only Cactus League start of 2023 on Mar. 1 against the Brewers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani will make only one start in Arizona over the spring because he'll be joining Team Japan for the World Baseball Classic. The Angels are committed to having the two-way star pitch more often in 2023, and it certainly makes sense after he posted a 2.33 ERA and 219:44 K:BB over his 166 innings on top of his offensive heroics. Even in leagues where Ohtani is treated as two-different players, he should go off the board early at both positions.

Manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani will pitch every sixth day as much as possible in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani made 12 starts on five days rest last season, but he pitched on at least six days rest for his other 16 starts. The 28-year-old posted a 2.33 ERA across a career-high 166 innings during 2022 and finished fourth in voting for the AL Cy Young Award. Assuming he stays healthy, Ohtani should be able to top that workload in 2023 while pitching every sixth day, which would only further add to his value as one of the best hitters and pitchers in the league.

Ohtani (15-9) allowed one earned run on one hit and one walk while striking out six across five innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Athletics.

The only baserunners Ohtani allowed came in the fifth inning, though that was enough for him to surrender a run and to take his ninth loss of the season. Otherwise, he was extremely impressive, racking up 13 swinging strikes on only 69 total pitches. Ohtani closed the season by allowing one or fewer earned runs in six of seven starts. Overall, he maintained a 2.33 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 219 strikeouts across 166 innings.

Ohtani and the Angels agreed to a one-year, $30 million deal Saturday, avoiding arbitration for next season.

The 2023 season will be Ohtani's final year before free agency, and he'll make the largest ever amount for an arbitration-eligible player. He'll take that record from Mookie Betts, who received $27 million in 2020. He'll also set the record for the largest raise in arbitration, as he made $5.5 million this season. His $24.5 million raise smashes the previous record of $9.6 million set by Jacob deGrom.

Ohtani (15-8) earned the win Thursday against the Athletics with eight shutout innings. He recorded 10 strikeouts while surrendering two hits and one walk.

Ohtani was masterful Thursday and came four outs away from recording his first career no-hitter before a base hit from Conner Capel spoiled the bid. His 10 strikeouts on the night were the highest he's recorded since July 28, and the win gives him five in his last six starts. He has a 2.35 ERA and 213 strikeouts with 15 wins on the season, and when considering his strong offensive season, he should challenge Aaron Judge for the AL MVP.

Ohtani (14-8) gave up two earned runs on three hits and six walks while striking out seven over five plus innings to earn the win in a 4-2 victory over the Twins on Friday.

Ohtani's stuff looked crisp and he racked up seven strikeouts on 12 swinging strikes en route to his 14th win the season. The major blemish on his line comes from the six free passes that he issued. Ohtani had not previously walked more than four batters in a game all season. The control problems could possibly be attributed to heavy rain which affected the playing field all night long. Ohtani also appeared to have caught Gary Sanchez looking on a 3-2 pitch in the sixth, but home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt didn't ring the batter up. Ohtani will carry his excellent ERA of 2.47 into his next expected start against the Rangers.

Ohtani isn't starting Thursday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani went 5-for-12 with a double, three runs and four strikeouts over the last three games and will get a day off prior to Friday's scheduled start in Minnesota as a pitcher. Mike Trout is resting his legs as the designated hitter and batting second.

Ohtani (13-8) earned the win during Saturday's 2-1 victory over Seattle, allowing three hits and one walk while recording eight strikeouts in seven scoreless innings.

Ohtani scattered his four baserunners evenly and didn't allow any Mariners past second base while helping himself out with an RBI double in the first inning and a run in the fourth. The 28-year-old tossed 73 of 107 pitches for strikes with 16 of the swinging variety and has now won four of his last five starts, posting a 0.53 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 34 innings during the span. Ohtani's 2.43 ERA and 196 strikeouts rank sixth in MLB, while only Spencer Strider has thrown fewer than his 148 innings among those in the top 14 on the strikeout leaderboard. He's currently projected to take the mound again next weekend in Minnesota.

Angels manager Phil Nevin indicated that the blister that caused Ohtani to depart early from his last pitching start Saturday isn't going to prevent him from making his next start this coming weekend, the Associated Press reports.

Ohtani had tossed 79 pitches over five innings and surrendered only one run before the blister caused his early departure last Saturday, though he stayed in the contest as a hitter. The two-way star remained in the lineup at designated hitter Sunday, and Nevin stated that he'll complete his normal bullpen session and be ready for his next scheduled pitching start without taking any extra time off. That outing will likely come at home against Seattle on Saturday.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and one run scored in Sunday's loss versus the Astros.

A late addition to the lineup due to concerns over a lingering blister could not keep Ohtani from mashing Sunday. He broke the game open with a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, his 34th long ball of the season. The two-way star has four home runs over his last six games and continues to make his case to win his second straight MVP. He is slashing .266/.355/.539 in 577 plate appearances this season.

Ohtani (blister) is in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

Ohtani was lifted from Saturday's start due to a blister on his right index finger, but he remained in the game as the designated hitter, and he will hit again a day later. It remains to be seen if Ohtani's finger issue will affect the Angels' upcoming pitching plans, but no changes have been announced as of yet.

Ohtani left Saturday's game against the Astros as a pitcher due to a blister on his right index finger.

Ohtani remained in the game as the Angels' designated hitter, but he could only make it five innings (79 pitches) on the mound due to the blister issue. The AL MVP candidate allowed one run on six hits and two walks while striking out seven. Ohtani's status for his next start as a pitcher is up in the air.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with two home runs, a double, three RBI and three runs scored in Monday's 10-0 win over the Tigers.

Ohtani led the charge on offense, homering in the third and seventh innings. He's been impressive lately, going 12-for-29 (.414) with five homers, 10 RBI, eight runs scored and two doubles through his last seven contests. The power surge has him up to 32 long balls and 85 RBI while maintaining a .270/.360/.537 slash line with 78 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 555 plate appearances.

Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani allowed one run over eight innings on the mound and went 0-for-4 with a walk Saturday against the Astros, and he'll receive a rest day for the series finale. Mike Trout will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Ryan Aguilar makes a start in center field.

Ohtani pitched eight innings against Houston on Saturday, allowing one run on six hits and no walks while striking out five batters. He did not factor in the decision.

Though Ohtani wasn't overpowering in the start, he held the Astros to a single run over eight standout frames. It was just the second time the All-Star hurler has completed eight innings this season, and his 111 pitches were the third-most he has thrown in a contest in his career, per indpendent baseball writer Taylor Blake Ward. Ohtani has bounced back from a poor start against Detroit on Aug. 21 with 15 innings of one-run ball over his past two outings.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees.

Ohtani delivered the game-winning hit for the second time in three games when he took Yankees ace Gerrit Cole deep in the sixth inning. The homer was Ohtani's third in his last four contests and his 30th of the year, the second time he's reached that mark in his career. The two-way star has added a .269/.359/.529 slash line with 82 RBI, 75 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 127 games. He finished August by hitting safely in six of his last seven games, going 10-for-27 (.370) in that span.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 4-3 victory versus the Yankees on Monday.

Ohtani got to Frankie Montas for a two-run blast that broke a 2-2 tie in the fifth inning. The Yankees managed only one run the rest of the way, so the two-way star's long ball proved to be the game-winner. Ohtani is up to 29 home runs on the campaign after slugging 46 last season. He's gone 5-for-8 with two homers and four RBI over his past two games.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in the Angels' 8-3 victory over the Blue Jays on Sunday.

Ohtani filled the scorecard Sunday as he recorded a two-run home run to pad the Angels' lead in the sixth inning and added a couple of hits and a walk for good measure. The home run was his 28th of the season and his first since Aug. 17. The All Star is now slashing .265/,358/.516 on the season.

Ohtani (11-8) earned the win Saturday, allowing zero runs on two hits and one walk over seven innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out nine.

Ohtani surrendered only one extra-base hit - a double off the bat of Vladimir Guerrero. The righty has recorded a quality 2.20 ERA over 28.2 innings in five starts during August. The 28-year-old has been slumping with the bat over his last seven games, recording a .150 average and .300 slugging percentage in 20 at-bats.

Ohtani (illness) will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Tuesday's game against the Rays.

Ohtani was withheld from the starting nine in Monday's 2-1 loss after he exited his early in his start during Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Tigers due to a stomach bug, but the two-way superstar looks like he'll made a full recovery from the ailment. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, Ohtani has already been cleared to make his next start as a pitcher Saturday in Toronto, so he should serve as the Angels' DH for the next four games unless interim manager Phil Nevin elects to give him a breather.

Ohtani (illness), who isn't serving as the designated hitter Monday against the Rays, is on track to make his next scheduled start Saturday against the Blue Jays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was removed from Sunday's start due to a stomach virus and is getting a breather for Monday's series opener against Tampa Bay. However, the 28-year-old is slated to serve as the designated hitter for the remainder of the series and should be back on the mound this weekend, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani (illness) isn't starting Monday against the Rays.

Ohtani served as the starting pitcher Sunday against the Tigers but was removed from the game due to a stomach virus. He won't start as the designated hitter Monday, as Mike Trout is taking over the DH while Magneuris Sierra starts in center field. It's not yet clear whether Ohtani will be available off the bench if needed.

The Angels announced that Ohtani was removed in the top of the fifth inning of Sunday's game against the Tigers due to a stomach virus. Ohtani struck out two and was charged with three earned runs on five hits and four walks over four innings before departing. He also went 0-for-1 with a walk at the plate.

Ohtani was removed from the contest when his third turn in the batting order came up in the fifth, as Kurt Suzuki came off the bench to pinch hit for the two-way standout. The stomach illness explains at least in part why Ohtani might have labored through one of his worst starts of the season on the mound, as he needed 85 pitches to record 12 outs and threw only 47 strikes. Assuming he's quickly able to move past the stomach ailment, Ohtani shouldn't be forced to miss a turn through the rotation, but his availability for Monday's game in Tampa Bay as a designated hitter is more of a question mark.

Ohtani went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run, an RBI triple and an RBI single in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners.

Ohtani had a stellar day at the plate, sending Magneuris Sierra home on a fifth-inning single, David Fletcher home on a seventh-inning triple and again on a ninth-inning homer. The superstar was a double shy of hitting for the cycle with two singles, a triple and a homer. The home run was Ohtani's 27th of the year and his fifth this month. He extended his hit streak to five games, which includes a three-hit and four-hit outing. During that span, Ohtani has increased his batting average from .253 to .265.

Ohtani tossed six innings against Seattle on Monday, allowing two runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out eight batters in a no-decision. He also went 1-for-4 at the plate.

Ohtani gave up a first-inning solo homer to Jesse Winker but was tagged for only one more run and one additional extra-base hit the rest of the way. The two-way star finished with his eighth quality start over his past 11 outings but was matched by opposing starter Luis Castillo and had to settle for a no-decision. Ohtani isn't projected to quite reach his explosive offensive numbers from last season, but he's already picked up one more win on the mound and has a lower ERA (2.69) and WHIP (1.06) along with a higher K/9 (12.7) through 20 starts.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings win over the Twins.

Ohtani got the Angels on the board with his eighth-inning blast. In the 10th, he was intentionally walked, but he got doubled off at first base after Luis Rengifo lined out to center field. The homer was Ohtani's fourth in August and his 26th of the year. The superstar is slashing .253/.346/.499 with 67 RBI, 63 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 474 plate appearances.

Ohtani (10-7) pitched six scoreless innings in a win over the Athletics on Tuesday. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out five, and he went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs scored at the plate.

Ohtani's combined batting and pitching lines produced something not seen in 50 years in the American League, ESPN reports. It was a welcome return to dominance for the right-hander -- he had allowed 11 runs (10 earned) across 18 innings in his last three starts, all losses. He lowered his ERA to 2.68 with a 1.05 WHIP and 157:27 K:BB through 111 innings across 19 starts, and he's up to 25 homers, 66 RBI, 62 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 460 plate appearances. Ohtani's next projected start on the mound is lined up for a home start versus the Mariners next week.

Ohtani isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Fletcher notes that this is simply a scheduled off day for the two-way star. Max Stassi will get a chance to serve as the designated hitter and Kurt Suzuki will handle the catching duties in Ohtani's absence.

Ohtani (forearm) went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs in Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Athletics.

After exiting late in Wednesday's 3-1 loss with a forearm cramp, Ohtani showed enough improvement overnight to fill his usual spot in the lineup for Thursday's series finale as the Angels' designated hitter. The two-way standout was responsible for two of the Angels' seven solo long balls on the day, as Los Angeles became the sixth team in MLB history to hit that many home runs and still lose. Ohtani, who is now up to 24 home runs on the season, looks like he'll be able to serve as the Angels' everyday designated hitter until his next turn on the mound comes up Tuesday in Oakland.

Ohtani (forearm) will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Thursday's game against the Athletics, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The Angels are facing a quick turnaround from Wednesday's 3-1 loss with Thursday's contest beginning at 4:07 p.m. ET, but Ohtani's inclusion in the lineup for the series finale implies that the forearm cramping he experiencing a night ago isn't a concern. He was lifted for a pinch hitter in the seventh inning of Wednesday's contest, but the move looks to have been mostly out of an abundance of caution. Ohtani will take a .253/.349/.491 slash line to go with 22 home runs and 11 stolen bases into Thursday's contest.

Ohtani (forearm) said after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Athletics that he expectsto serve as the Angels' designated hitter in Thursday's series opener in Seattle, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani made his 18th start of the season on the mound Wednesday and dropped to 9-7 after he was charged with three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven in 5.2 innings. Though he didn't appear to suffer an injury during his time on the mound, the two-way player was lifted for a pinch hitter when his turn in the lineup came up in the bottom of the seventh. The Angels characterized his injury as a "mild cramp in his forearm," per Nevin, but the issue isn't considered serious, according to Sam Blum of The Athletic. Fantasy managers in leagues with daily lineup moves will likely still want to verify that Ohtani is in fact good to go when the Angels unveil their starting nine for Thursday's contest.

Ohtani (9-7) took the loss Wednesday against the A's after giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over 5.2 innings, and he was replaced by a pinch hitter during the seventh inning due to mild forearm cramps, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

The 28-year-old had already been replaced on the mound when he exited, and it's unclear if the injury surfaced while pitching or hitting. Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a strikeout at the plate, and he's expected to be back in the lineup at designated hitter for Thursday's series finale versus Oakland, so it doesn't appear to be a serious injury.

Ohtani went 2-for-2 with a triple, a run, two walks and a caught stealing in a 5-2 loss to the Rangers on Sunday.

Ohtani tripled and scored in the first inning, walked and was caught stealing second in the third, singled in the fifth and walked again in the seventh for his fifth occasion reaching base four times this season and first since June 28. The 28-year-old closes July on a high note -- going 3-for-6 with a home run, a triple and three walks in his last two games -- though he slashed a subpar .224/.360/.459 with six home runs, 12 runs, 13 RBI and three stolen bases in 25 games.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run, a walk and two total runs scored in Saturday's 9-7 win over the Rangers.

Ohtani gave the Angels their first lead in the back-and-forth game with his third-inning blast. He also walked in the eighth and came around to score the go-ahead run on a Luis Rengifo two-run double. Prior to Saturday, Ohtani had gone only 3-for-22 at the plate in his previous six games, though two of those hits went for extra bases. He's slashing .251/.346/.486 with 22 long balls, 62 RBI, 57 runs scored and 11 stolen bases through 422 plate appearances.

Ohtani (9-6) allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out 11 in six innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Rangers.

Ohtani put in a solid pitching performance, but a Nathaniel Lowe solo home run and a Corey Seager RBI double accounted for the only two runs of the game. At the plate, Ohtani went 0-for-4, while the Angels had just five hits in the contest. The two-way star has double-digit strikeouts in each of his last six starts, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) across 39 innings in that span. He owns a 2.81 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 145:23 K:BB through 99.1 innings overall.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks, a stolen base and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-0 win over the Royals.

Ohtani suffered a bruised knee when he fouled a ball off his leg Monday, but it didn't cost the 28-year-old any playing time. He opened the scoring with a third-inning solo shot, and that was ultimately all the Angels needed as they cruised to victory. While he's gone a pedestrian 4-for-15 across his last four games, three of those hits have gone for extra bases. The two-way superstar is slashing .256/.349/.493 with 21 homers, 58 RBI, 55 runs scored and 11 steals through 404 plate appearances.

Ohtani (knee) is in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals.

Ohtani fouled a ball off his leg in Monday's contest, but it will not wind up costing him any time. He will serve as the designated hitter and lead off for the Angels on Tuesday.

Ohtani suffered a bruise above his knee during Monday's game against the Royals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani fouled a ball off his leg during Monday's matchup, and while he said after the game that he's fine to play Tuesday, his status will be worth watching leading up to first pitch. The Angels will re-evaluate the two-way star Tuesday morning, per Fletcher.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to Atlanta.

The Angels didn't have much to celebrate in the contest, but Ohtani provided one highlight with his solo shot to right field in the fifth inning. The long ball was his third in July and his 20th of the season. Ohtani is the only player in the majors with at least 20 homers and 10 thefts so far in 2022.

Ohtani (9-5) took the loss Friday as the Angels were downed 8-1 by Atlanta, coughing up six runs on six hits and a walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out 11.

The two-way superstar blanked Atlanta through six innings and fanned double-digit batters for the fifth straight start and the eighth time this season, but Ohtani faded badly in the seventh as Matt Olson and Orlando Arcia both took him deep. The right-hander exited after 92 pitches (68 strikes), and Ohtani will take a 2.80 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 134:23 K:BB through 93.1 innings on the season into his next outing.

Ohtani said that he won't pitch for the American League in Tuesday's All-Star Game, as he's instead "prioritizing" the regular season and returning to the mound for the Angels' first game of the second half Friday in Atlanta, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Though Ohtani's decision not to put his two-way skills on full display Tuesday isn't an ideal development for Major League Baseball, it's a beneficial one for fantasy managers, who may not have gotten a pitching start from the 28-year-old had he chosen to take the hill for the All-Star Game. Ohtani will still serve as the AL's designated hitter and leadoff man for the exhibition in Los Angeles.

Ohtani (9-4) allowed one run on four hits and two walks with 12 strikeouts in six innings, earning the win Wednesday over the Astros. He also went 2-for-4 with a two-run triple, a run scored and a walk at the plate.

Ohtani's two-way talent was once again on full display. He allowed an earned run for the first time since June 9 -- he cover 26.2 innings with just one unearned run against in his previous four starts. As a hitter, his second-inning two-run triple gave the Angels a 3-0 lead, which was enough for him to protect on his own. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 2.38 with a 0.99 WHIP and 123:22 K:BB after his fourth straight start with double-digit strikeouts. His batting numbers remain strong, as he's up to a .258/.347/.494 slash line with 19 home runs, 56 RBI, 50 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, 15 doubles and two triples in 369 plate appearances. He's been selected to the All-Star Game for the American League.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Orioles.

Ohtani entered the contest having gone just 3-for-21 in July before he notched his seventh three-hit performance of the season Friday. He produced what looked to be an insurance run with a solo shot in the top of the ninth inning.; however, Baltimore stormed back for three runs and a walk-off win in the bottom of the frame. Ohtani is up to 19 long balls and 54 RBI on the campaign, and he is slashing .262/.347/.502 through 352 plate appearances.

Ohtani (8-4) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing one unearned run on two hits and three walks over seven innings in a 5-2 victory over the Marlins. He struck out 10.

The two-way superstar also gave himself all the run support he would need on the mound, going 1-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base. Ohtani hasn't given up an earned run in nearly a month, winning five straight starts and fanning double-digit batters in three straight, and on the season he boasts a 2.44 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 111:20 K:BB through 81 innings while also supplying an .839 OPS, 18 homers, 10 steals, 48 runs and 53 RBI in 343 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Marlins.

Angels hitters has very little success against Sandy Alcantara on the night, but Ohtani at least was able to add a little value on the basepaths. The steal was his ninth of the year, and over his last 13 games as a hitter, the two-way superstar is slashing .317/.455/.732 with five homers and 14 RBI.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Astros.

Ohtani helped Los Angeles get off to a promising start with his first-inning solo shot to right field. That was the only run the Angels managed in the contest, however, and they tallied only one additional hit. Ohtani has notched three homers over his past six contests, and he has added two doubles, four RBI, a stolen base and six walks over that span.

Ohtani (7-4) earned the win over the White Sox on Wednesday, pitching 5.2 scoreless innings during which he allowed five hits and one walk while striking out 11.

Ohtani was dominant in the outing, racking up a whopping 24 swinging strikes and registering his second straight double-digit strikeout performance. He didn't allow any extra-base hits and extended his scoreless streak to 21.2 innings. The only disappointing part of his outing Wednesday was that he wasn't able to earn a fourth straight quality start due to racking up 108 pitches through 5.2 frames. Ohtani is in the midst of arguably the finest pitching stretch of his major-league career -- over his past four starts, he's allowed only one run while registering a 36:6 K:BB over 26.2 frames.

Ohtani went 3-for-3 with a home run, two doubles, two RBI and a walk in Tuesday's 11-4 loss to the White Sox.

Ohtani feasted on White Sox starter Johnny Cueto, posting a first-inning double and a solo shot in the third before drawing a walk in the fifth. This was the two-say star's third three-hit game in June, and he's swatted four homers in his last seven contests. Overall, the 27-year-old is slashing .268/.351/.511 with 17 long balls, 49 RBI, 46 runs scored, eight stolen bases and 15 doubles through 74 games. He's set to start on the mound in Wednesday's series finale against the Pale Hose, and he enters that game having allowed just one run in 21 innings across his last three turns through the rotation.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in a 4-3 win over the White Sox on Monday.

Ohtani struck out twice in the contest, but he reached base in his other two plate appearances. The two-way star collected his eighth theft of the campaign following an intentional walk in the seventh inning. Ohtani is slashing .260/.343/.487 with 16 homers, 47 RBI, 45 runs and eight stolen bases as an offensive player on the season.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Mariners.

Ohtani tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning with a moonshot -- it went 462 feet with an exit velocity of 118 mph, per Statcast. That's his second-hardest hit ball of the year, and it counted as his 16th homer. Five of those long balls have come in the last 14 games. The two-way star is slashing .261/.339/.493 with 47 RBI, 45 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 13 doubles and a triple through 307 plate appearances.

Ohtani (6-4) dominated with eight scoreless innings to earn the win over the Royals on Wednesday. He struck out 13 while allowing just two hits and a walk.

Ohtani followed up a career-best performance at the plate Tuesday with one of his most dominant pitching outings. It's the first time he's gone eight scoreless innings, and the 13 strikeouts marked a career high for the two-way star. He now has a 2.90 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 90:16 K:BB through 68.1 innings overall. Ohtani also went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks at the plate Wednesday, lifting his season slash line to .260/.336/.487 in 298 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with two home runs and eight RBI in Tuesday's 12-11 extra-innings loss to the Royals.

Ohtani was the key to the Angels' offense Tuesday, delivering three-run homers in the sixth and ninth innings while adding sacrifice flies in the seventh and 11th. The eight RBI he posted in this contest easily set a new career high. The two-way star now boasts a .260/.331/.489 slash line with 15 homers, 45 RBI, 44 runs scored, seven stolen bases, 13 doubles and a triple through 293 plate appearances. He'll be on the mound for Wednesday's series finale versus the Royals.

Ohtani will hit the bench Friday against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani never takes a position in the field, so when the Angels want to rest Mike Trout's legs by deploying him at the designated hitter spot as they're doing Friday, the two-way player is forced to hit the bench. Ohtani is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak in which he owns a 1.077 OPS and should return to the lineup Saturday.

Ohtani (5-4) allowed three hits and two walks while striking out six over six shutout innings to earn the win Thursday versus the Mariners. He also went 2-for-4 at the plate.

Ohtani turned in his sixth quality start of the season in 11 outings. The two-way star has allowed just one run in his last 13 innings on the mound, and he's gone 16-for-43 (.372) during an 11-game hitting streak. For the season, he's pitched to a 3.28 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 77:15 K:BB in 60.1 innings, and he's now batting .263/.337/.486 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI, 42 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 63 games as a hitter.

Ohtani is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mets, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's absence appears to be tied to the fact that the Angels seemingly don't want Mike Trout taking the field two days in a row immediately after a three-game absence due to groin tightness. Trout will fill the designated hitter spot Sunday, leaving no room for Ohtani.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three runs and three RBI in a 6-3 win against the Mets.

Ohtani reached base with a double, single and home run in each of his first three at-bats for his first three-hit game since May 9. In the process, the 27-year-old extended his hit streak to a modest eight games, though he's batting a standard .285 during 42 June at-bats. The two-way phenom is now slashing .255/.333/.476 with 13 home runs, 41 runs and 37 RBI in 60 games.

Ohtani (4-4) earned the win over Boston on Thursday, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six. He also went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run at the plate.

Ohtani took it upon himself to end the Angels' franchise-record 14-game losing streak, producing more runs with his bat (two) than he gave up over seven innings on the mound. The two-way star gave Los Angeles its first lead with a two-run shot to center in the fifth inning and finished with his fifth quality start of the campaign as a pitcher. Ohtani racked up an impressive 18 swinging strikes despite registering a modest six punchouts.

Ohtani is serving as the designated hitter in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

Ohtani was the starting pitcher during Thursday's matinee, and he allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two in three innings to take the loss. He also went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts at the plate, and he'll remain in the lineup as the designated hitter and bat second during the second game of the twin bill. Ohtani's usage during the doubleheader marks the first time since 1945 that a player has served as the starting pitcher in a matinee before starting the second game of a twin bill as a non-pitcher.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs, three RBI, a walk and a hit-by-pitch in Sunday's 11-10 loss to the Blue Jays.

Ohtani took Blue Jays starter Jose Berrios deep in his first two at-bats Sunday. That snapped an 0-for-12 skid at the dish for Ohtani, who recently overcame some minor back stiffness. The two-way star is slashing .249/.325/.470 with 11 homers, 32 RBI, 34 runs scored, seven stolen bases and eight doubles through 48 contests. Sunday was his third multi-homer game of the year.

Ohtani (back) will bat second and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Blue Jays, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani left Thursday's series opener with back stiffness and was on the bench Friday, though he did make an appearance as a pinch hitter. He'll be fully involved from the start this time around, which seemingly backs up the idea that he'll be ready to take the mound for his next start, which lines up to come next Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

Ohtani (back) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani was removed from Thursday's game against the Blue Jays due to back stiffness and will be held out of the starting nine for at least one contest. Taylor Ward, who has sat out the past five games with a shoulder issue, will bat leadoff as the designated hitter Friday.

Ohtani exited Thursday's game against the Blue Jays due to back stiffness, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was yanked in the eighth inning as Taylor Ward (shoulder) hit in his place. After the game, manager Joe Maddon suggested the injury wasn't serious and noted Ohtani could be in the lineup Friday.

Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Wednesday's loss to the Rangers.

There weren't many highlights for the Angels in the contest, but Ohtani did help the team get an early jump by leading off the first inning with a walk, swiping second base and coming around to score on an Anthony Rendon single. After collecting a career-high 26 steals last season, the two-way star is on a similar pace with seven thefts through 44 contests in 2022. Most of his other offensive numbers are slightly down, but Ohtani is still putting up solid production with nine homers, 28 RBI and 30 runs scored.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run Sunday in the Angels' 4-1 win over the Athletics.

Ohtani's leadoff long ball in the bottom of the first inning staked the Angels to an early 1-0 lead that the team maintained the rest of the way. He's now up to nine home runs on the season, placing him behind only Mike Trout (12) for the team lead.

Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a run, a walk, a stolen base and three strikeouts in Friday's loss to Oakland.

It was a frustrating night for the two-way star, as he fanned multiple times for the fourth straight game. However, Ohtani provided some fantasy value with a first-inning walk that was followed by a stolen base and subsequently turned into a run. Over his past four games, Ohtani has gone 2-for-17 with 10 strikeouts, and the Angels have lost all four contests.

Ohtani didn't factor into the decision during Wednesday's 6-5 loss to Texas, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings.

Ohtani navigated Texas' lineup successfully with the exception of Jonah Heim, who accounted for both runs surrendered with RBI in the fourth and sixth innings. The 27-year-old has delivered quality starts in three straight turns and has now permitted two runs or fewer in six of his seven starts. Ohtani lines up to take the hill again next week against Toronto.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 4-1 win over Oakland.

Ohtani got the Angels off to a positive start in the contest, slugging a 425-foot two-run shot in the first inning. It was the second homer in as many games for the two-way star and pushed his total to eight long balls on the season. Ohtani is tied for eighth in the league with 26 RBI on the campaign.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Oakland.

The two-way star went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in the first game of the twin bill, and he followed that performance with his seventh homer of the season in the nightcap. The long ball had extra significance, as it was the 100th of his major-league career. According to the Angels' communications department, Ohtani joined Hideki Matsui and Ichiro Suzuki as the third native of Japan to hit at least 100 home runs in the majors.

Ohtani didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning loss to the Rays, allowing one run on two hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out five.

His only real mistake resulted in a Kevin Kiermaier solo shot in the second inning, but Ohtani still found himself on the hook for his third loss of the year until the Angels tied things up in the eighth. He also went 1-for-4 with his fifth stolen base of the season to go along with his second straight quality start and third in six outings, as the two-way superstar continues to display a skill set like no other.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with two home runs, five RBI and an additional run scored in Monday's 11-3 win over the Rays.

After launching a solo shot off Jalen Beeks to left-center field in the sixth inning, Ohtani crushed a Calvin Faucher offering to nearly the exact same spot in the seventh for a grand slam -- the first of his professional career, either in Japan or North America. Ohtani isn't hitting quite as well as he did last year, but he still sports a .252/.315/.445 slash line with six homers, four steals, 21 RBI and 23 runs through 30 games, and Monday's performance could be a sign he's about to catch fire at the plate.

Ohtani (3-2) picked up the win against Boston on Thursday, pitching seven scoreless innings on six hits while striking out 11 and walking zero. He also went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI as a hitter.

The groin injury Ohtani suffered during Sunday's 6-5 win over the White Sox doesn't appear to be an issue anymore, as the superstar registered his best pitching performance of the season. Ohtani faced traffic in nearly every inning, but he was able to get out of trouble with a big strikeout whenever he needed to. Ohtani also displayed his prowess at the plate, ripping an RBI-single off the Green Monster during the Angels' five-run eighth inning.

Ohtani will start at a pitcher and designated hitter in Thursday's game against the Red Sox, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Due to a groin injury suffered in Sunday's 6-5 win over the White Sox while he had served as a DH, Ohtani sat out Monday's series finale against Chicago. He's been back in action as a DH for the Angels' past two games against the Athletics, however, going 1-for-7 with two walks and a run between those contests. The groin injury prompted the Angels to push Ohtani back a day in the pitching schedule, but he'll still end up making a start on the mound in Boston as originally planned.

Ohtani (groin) will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Tuesday's game in Boston, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

After checking out of Sunday's 6-5 win over the White Sox with right groin tightness, Ohtani was withheld from the lineup in Monday's 3-0 loss in the series finale. Manager Joe Maddon described Ohtani's absence as precautionary, and the two-way phenom's ability to rejoin the lineup Tuesday implies the groin issue won't prevent him from making regular starts at DH moving forward. Maddon also indicated that he's hopeful Ohtani will be able to make a start as a pitcher during the three-game series in Boston, which would come either Wednesday or Thursday.

Ohtani (groin) is out of the lineup Monday against the White Sox merely as a precaution and is available to pinch hit, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani left Sunday's game with groin tightness, and while he initially said he planned to play Monday, the Angels will elect to take things easy with him for now. An MRI was deemed unnecessary, however, and the fact that he's available off the bench suggests he should return to the lineup soon. His turn in the rotation will come up Wednesday against Boston, but the Angels haven't decided when he'll next take the mound, so it's possible his start is delayed or skipped.

Ohtani (groin) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

After departing Sunday's 6-5 win over Chicago with right groin tightness, Ohtani said he would be back in the lineup for Monday's series finale, but the Angels apparently felt differently about the matter. Perhaps due to the quick turnaround of Monday's contest -- which begins at 2:10 p.m. ET -- the Angels didn't want to take any chances with the two-way star. Assuming Ohtani's groin issue is at least feeling better Monday, he should have a chance to rejoin the lineup Tuesday as a designated hitter in the Angels' series opener in Boston. He tentatively lines up to make his next start as a pitcher Wednesday.

Ohtani (groin) said after Sunday's game against the White Sox that he plans to play in Monday's series finale, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani exited Sunday's win in the top of the ninth inning due to right groin tightness. Although he'll presumably be monitored to make sure he isn't dealing with a significant issue, the 27-year-old didn't sound too concerned about the injury, and he's optimistic that he'll be able to serve as the designated hitter Monday. However, Ohtani is also scheduled to start as a pitcher Wednesday in Boston, so the Angels could choose to exercise some caution early this week so he doesn't aggravate the issue.

Ohtani was removed from Sunday's game against the White Sox with right groin tightness.

He went 0-for-3 with a walk and RBI before Jack Mayfield came on to pinch hit for him in the top of the ninth inning. Since Ohtani was serving as the Angels' designated hitter, he most likely picked up the injury while he was running at some point over his four plate appearances on the afternoon. The injury suddenly puts Ohtani's status in jeopardy for the Angels' upcoming seven-game week; the two-way player is tentatively in line to make his next start as a pitcher Wednesday in Boston.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo homer, three runs scored and a stolen base in Friday's 5-1 win over the White Sox.

Ohtani took Lucas Giolito deep in the first inning with a 419-foot solo shot, his fourth homer of the year. He reached on a fielder's choice and scored in the sixth before singling, stealing a base and scoring again in the eighth. The reigning AL MVP is 16-for-56 (.286) with six extra-base hits and three steals over his last 13 games.

Ohtani isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Guardians, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani was productive in Wednesday's win over Cleveland, allowing two runs in five innings as a pitcher while going 3-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI as a hitter. He'll get his first day off this season while Mike Trout serves as the designated hitter with Brandon Marsh starting in center field.

Ohtani (2-2) picked up the win against Cleveland on Wednesday, pitching five innings during which he allowed two runs on five hits and one walk while striking out four. He also went 3-for-5 with a double, a run and an RBI as a hitter.

Ohtani wasn't dominant on the mound -- he registered a season-low strikeout total and induced just seven swings-and-misses -- but he bounced back from yielding two first-inning runs and did enough to earn his second straight win. The two-way star helped his own cause at the plate, notching an RBI double in the sixth inning and coming around to score on a Mike Trout double. Ohtani finished with his first three-hit performance of the campaign and will likely make his next start as a pitcher early next week in Boston.

Ohtani will hit second as the designated hitter Monday against the Guardians, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 27-year-old hit leadoff for the first 16 games of the campaign but will now drop to the No. 2 spot in the order, with Taylor Ward batting leadoff. If the change to the batting order is a long-term move, Ohtani will still see plenty of run scoring opportunities and should see a bump in RBI production.

Ohtani (1-2) picked up the win in Wednesday's 6-0 victory over the Astros, scattering one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings while striking out 12.

Not only was Ohtani brilliant on the mound, taking a perfect game into the sixth inning and firing 55 of 81 pitches for strikes while generating 20 swinging strikes, he gave himself all the run support he needed by going 2-for-4 at the plate with a walk, a double, a run scored and two RBI. The two-way superstar tied his MLB career high in strikeouts with the performance, and he'll carry a 4.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and dominant 26:4 K:BB through 14.1 innings into his next start.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a home run, three RBI, three runs and a stolen base in a 7-2 win against Texas on Saturday.

After belting his first two homers of the campaign Friday, Ohtani went deep again Saturday to thrust him into a tie for second in the AL with three long balls on the campaign. The two-way star also swiped his second bag in the victory, giving his fantasy managers further reason to celebrate. After going 1-for-13 to start the season, Ohtani has put together a six-game hitting streak during which he has gone 8-for-26 (.308) with five extra-base hits.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two homers and three RBI in Friday's 9-6 win over Texas.

Ohtani blasted his first homer of the year on the first pitch of the game from Matt Bush. He then took Kolby Allard deep for a two-run blast in the fifth. The reigning AL MVP was off to a slow 5-for-29 start at the dish but Friday's performance could be the momentum boost he needed. Ohtani is now hitting .206 with four extra-base hits this season.

Ohtani (0-2) allowed six runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five in 3.2 innings in a 10-5 loss Thursday in Texas.

Ohtani's biggest foe of the game was catcher Jonah Heim. Heim was involved in all six runs credited to Ohtani as he hit a grand slam in the second inning and tacked on a RBI single in the fourth, later scoring after Ohtani was removed from the game. The reigning American League Most Valuable Player now has one good and one very bad start on the season. At the plate, the 27-year-old went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and a walk. His next start will likely be next Wednesday in Houston.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a run and a stolen base in Monday's 6-2 victory versus Miami.

Ohtani led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, then stole second base and came around to score on a Brandon Marsh homer. The slugger hasn't been able to get going with the bat yet, hitting .143 (3-for-21) through four games. However, he offers a tantalizing combination of power and speed as a hitter, as evidenced by his 46-homer, 26-steal campaign last season.

Ohtani (0-1) was tagged with the loss Thursday against the Astros after allowing one run on four hits and a walk while fanning nine across 4.2 innings.

The star hurler could not get out of the fifth inning and while he looked dominant at times, the one run he allowed -- an RBI single from Alex Bregman that scored Michael Brantley -- was enough to tag him with the loss here. Ohtani went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA last season and will aim to earn his first win on the season when he faces the Rangers on the road next week.

Ohtani will serve as the Angels' leadoff hitter to begin the regular season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani has hit from the leadoff spot for the majority of spring training, and he's delivered a .455 on-base percentage across 11 plate appearances. He spent the majority of the 2021 season hitting either second or third, so his shift up the order will not be drastic. However, it will give him the opportunity to maximize volume, of particular importance if he receives days off when he takes the mound.

Ohtani will make his next Cactus League start Thursday against Milwaukee, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled start as a pitcher Saturday, but manager Joe Maddon reiterated that the move wasn't due to an injury or fatigue. Ohtani is expected to be built up to around 90 pitches by Opening Day, and he simply preferred to start Thursday as he continues his spring progression.

Ohtani will make his next start in the Cactus League on Thursday against the Brewers, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was originally in line to pitch Saturday, though the decision for him to not take the mound is not injury or fatigue related. Manager Joe Maddon also noted that he expects Ohtani to be stretched out to 90 pitches for Opening Day, so he should be in line for a fairly typical workload.

Ohtani will no longer serve as the starting pitcher in Saturday's Cactus League game against the White Sox, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's scratch from his scheduled start wasn't due to an injury, and he's still slated to serve as the designated hitter Saturday. It's not yet clear when the right-hander will make his next spring start on the mound, but he was officially named the team's Opening Day starter Friday.

Ohtani was officially named the Angels' Opening Day starter Friday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

In past years, the honor could potentially have gone to offseason addition Noah Syndergaard, but Ohtani is the clear choice following a season in which he struck out 29.3 percent of opposing batters en route to a 3.18 ERA. He'll face the Astros at home to open the season on April 7 and then likely the Rangers in Texas a week later, with the Angels again expected to use a six-man rotation.

MLB and the Players Association agreed to a rule Tuesday that will allow Ohtani to remain in the lineup as the designated hitter even once he's done pitching, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.

According to Sherman, "the new rule stipulates that if the starting pitcher is also hitting in the lineup, then that player remains as the DH even if he is pulled from the start." Ohtani will now maintain his full value as a hitter on days where he pitches, as a shortened start on the mound won't affect his at-bats. It's also a huge boost for the Angels, which were previously forced to abandon the designated hitter once Ohtani was done pitching for the day.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said Saturday that Ohtani could be the team's leadoff hitter this year, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani's ability to reach base (.372 OBP last season) and speed (26 thefts) are certainly fitting for a leadoff hitter, though the two-way star's big power (46 homers) typically fits best in the heart of the order. Ohtani most often hit in the No. 2 spot last season while David Fletcher was the team's primary leadoff man, but Fletcher posted a below-average .297 OBP on the campaign. Should Ohtani be moved up, Maddon indicated that he could be followed in the order by Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon, likely leading to plenty of run-scoring opportunities at the cost of some RBI chances.

Ohtani will pitch in his first Cactus League game of the spring Monday against Kansas City, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani had previously been scheduled to make his first pitching appearance of spring training in a minor-league game, but the Angels changed direction and will now have him throw in their fourth Cactus League contest. The two-way star made his spring debut as a hitter Saturday against Arizona, going 1-for-2 with an RBI single.

Ohtani tossed his first live batting practice of spring training Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Aside from nearly being struck in the face by a comebacker off the bat of non-roster invitee Kean Wong, Ohtani had an uneventful throwing session, which qualifies as good news. The Angels are once again planning to implement a six-man rotation in 2022, affording Ohtani at least five days' rest rather than the standard four in between his pitching starts. He'll likely continue to hit for himself on most of his pitching days and should be a near-everyday designated hitter for the Angels on his non-pitching days, making him most valuable in fantasy leagues where he can be moved between both roles freely. Even in leagues with weekly lineup moves where Ohtani has to be locked in exclusively as either a pitcher or hitter, he should still rank among the top fantasy performers in either role.

Ohtani was named the 2021 American League MVP on Thursday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani received all 30 first-place votes following his dominant 2021 campaign. The two-way player excelled on the mound and at the plate during his fourth season with the Angels. He posted a 3.18 ERA and 1.09 WHIP in 130.1 innings across 23 starts as a pitcher while slashing .257/.372/.592 with 46 home runs, 103 runs, 100 RBI and 26 stolen bases as a hitter.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Mariners.

Ohtani took Tyler Anderson deep in the first inning, putting the Angels on the board right away. He only had two long balls in his last 21 games, but he finished with 46 home runs. The 26-year-old finished the season with a .257/.372/.592 with 46 home runs, 100 RBI, 103 runs and 26 steals in 639 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and a run Wednesday in the Angels' 7-2 win over the Rangers.

Ohtani made his last start of the season as a pitcher Sunday, but he's still expected to bring plenty of value to fantasy managers over the final week of campaign as a designated hitter. Though he's endured a power drought of late with only two home runs in September, Ohtani has reached base at a prolific .406 clip this month while driving in 22, scoring 12 runs and stealing four bags.

Manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday that Ohtani won't make another turn through the starting rotation but will continue to serve as the designated hitter for the final five games of the season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani allowed one run over seven innings while recording 10 strikeouts in his last start Sunday versus the Mariners, and he won't end up taking the mound again after initially lining up to pitch the final game of the regular season. It's not exactly surprising the Angels will be extra cautious with the 27-year-old heading into the offseason, so he'll finish his 2021 pitching campaign with a 9-2 record, 3.18 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 156:44 K:BB across 130.1 innings (23 starts). The frontrunner for AL MVP, Ohtani will bat leadoff as the DH at Texas on Tuesday and is slated to remain in the lineup through the rest of the week.

Ohtani got a no-decision in Sunday's 5-1 loss to Seattle, allowing one run on five hits with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.

Ohtani shut down Seattle all game and surrendered his lone run on a Jarred Kelenic solo shot in the seventh. Unfortunately, Seattle starter Marco Gonzales matched Ohtani's stellar performance and the Mariners eventually prevailed when the game turned over to the bullpens. The 27-year-old has now gone at least seven innings in three of his last four starts and is demonstrating an increasingly rare skill for pitching deep into games. No announcement has been made regarding whether Ohtani will pitch again this season.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two triples, three runs, three RBI, two walks and a strikeout In Saturday's 14-1 triumph over the Mariners.

Ohtani tripled in runs in the first and third innings, also walked in a run in the third and walked and scored in the fifth. The 27-year-old has been taking what's given of late with 13 walks over his last four games and a .750 OBP in the stretch to contribute to a .227/.416/.418 line in September.

Ohtani went 0-for-1 with three walks, a run and a stolen base in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Astros.

Ohtani hasn't had much of a chance to swing the bat lately, as he has racked up seven walks in his past two games. Fortunately for fantasy managers who roster him, Ohtani's speed gives him fantasy value even when he isn't knocking the ball out of the park. The two-way star has doubled his career high with 24 thefts on the campaign, tied for eighth-most in baseball.

Ohtani went 0-for-2 with four walks in Wednesday's loss to Houston.

After hitting his 45th home run Tuesday, Ohtani was mostly avoided by Houston pitchers Wednesday. Two of the four free passes he was was given were intentional, including one in the 10th inning with nobody out. Ohtani's power output this season has likely been a factor in his career-high 13.6 percent walk rate.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-5 loss to the Astros.

Ohtani went deep off Cristian Javier in the eighth inning. It was his 45th long ball of the season and first since Sept. 10, now trailing Vladimir Guerrero and Salvador Perez by one. Although having a historic season, the 26-year-old is slashing just .171/.293/.300 in his last 20 games prior to Tuesday.

Ohtani will likely make one more start on the mound this season, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was impressive in his last start Sunday against the Athletics, surrendering two runs and fanning 10 across eight innings of work. Skipper Joe Maddon does expect Ohtani to start once more in 2021, though he also notes the 26-year-old typically experiences soreness two days after he toes the rubber. Ohtani's usage on the mound the rest of this season figures to be determined by how his body responds to Sunday's outing.

Ohtani got a no-decision in Sunday's 3-2 loss to Oakland, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts in eight innings.

Ohtani was in his customary dominant form on the mound Sunday and shut Oakland down aside from two solo home runs surrendered. The 10 strikeouts ties Ohtani's season high while his 108 pitches thrown are his second most in any start this season with his season high coming earlier this month. The outing was a nice rebound from last starts six runs permitted against the Astros on Sep. 10. There's been no word yet on when Ohtani might take the mound next.

Ohtani threw a successful bullpen session Friday and will start on the mound for the Angels on Sunday against the Athletics, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

There was some concern that Ohtani wouldn't pitch again this season after he experienced arm soreness while playing catch Wednesday. However, manager Joe Maddon clarified that Ohtani did not suffer an injury, but instead that he was just dealing with fatigue. That said, his workload may be monitored carefully when he takes the mound Sunday.

Ohtani is starting Thursday's game against the White Sox as the designated hitter.

Ohtani is dealing with some arm soreness after he played catch Wednesday, and he'll be unable to make his scheduled start Friday as a result. However, manager Joe Maddon described the 27-year-old's issue as late-season fatigue rather than an injury, and he'll be able to continue hitting.

Ohtani won't start Friday's game against the Athletics, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Manager Joe Maddon initially expected Ohtani to start Friday's series opener, but his arm is apparently sore after he played catch Wednesday. It's not yet clear when the right-hander will take the mound, but it doesn't seem as though his arm soreness is a long-term concern for the Angels.

Ohtani is expected to start at home versus Oakland on Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The Angels are hopeful that Alex Cobb (wrist) will be able to return to the rotation Thursday, allowing the team to give Ohtani an extra day of rest. Ohtani's previous outing came Sept. 10 at Houston, so he'll have a full week between appearances on the mound. The right-handed hurler struggled in that start versus the Astros, giving up six runs on nine hits over 3.1 innings.

Ohtani (9-2) allowed six earned runs on nine hits while striking out one across 3.1 innings, taking the loss to the Angels on Friday. He went 1-for-1 with a solo home run and two walks at the plate.

It was an uncharacteristic start for Ohtani, taking his first loss since May 28. Prior to Friday's game, seven of his last eight outings were quality starts. However, he had another solid day at the plate, reaching base on all three plate appearances and homering off Framber Valdez in the first inning. He leads MLB with 44 homers while carrying a 3.36 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with a 10.6 K/9 this season.

Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base Sunday in a loss to the Rangers.

The slugger didn't collect any hits in the game, but he still contributed to fantasy squads with an eighth-inning theft. Ohtani is up to 23 stolen bases on the campaign, tied for sixth in the majors. He also leads the league with 43 home runs, and he is the first player in franchise history to log a 40-20 season.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and was caught stealing in a 4-1 win over Texas on Saturday.

One night after getting the win on the mound, Ohtani extended Los Angeles' lead to 4-0 with a 426-foot bomb to right off Texas starter Kolby Allard in the sixth inning and later singled in the eighth but was caught stealing second. The phenom's MLB-leading 43rd long ball snapped an 0-for-10 skid at the plate, though his ninth caught stealing also leads the majors.

Ohtani (9-1) allowed two earned runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight across seven innings, earning the win over the Rangers on Friday. He went 0-for-4 from the plate.

Ohtani surrendered a two-run homer in the second inning to Jason Martin that tied the game. However, the Angels regained the lead as Ohtani fired five shutout innings before being relieved in the eighth. It appears his hand/wrist injury didn't affect him as he threw 117 pitches in his outing. The 26-year-old has a 2.97 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with a 10.8 K/9. In addition, he is slashing .258/.358/.612, leading MLB with 42 home runs.

Ohtani (hand/wrist) will start on the mound Friday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani had Tuesday's scheduled start pushed back after being hit by a pitch in the right hand/wrist over the weekend, but he completed a bullpen session Wednesday and has been cleared to rejoin the rotation. It never appeared to be a serious issue, as the 27-year-old remained in the lineup as the designated hitter the past couple days, and he'll bat second in Wednesday's series finale with the Yankees.

Ohtani (hand/wrist) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was unable to start as a pitcher Tuesday after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand/wrist. However, he's remained in the lineup as a designated hitter, and he hit his 42nd home run of the season Monday. He tentatively lines up to start Saturday's game at home against the Rangers as a pitcher, but more clarity regarding his status will likely be revealed based on how he feels after Wednesday's throwing session.

Ohtani went 0-for-2 with two walks, two stolen bases and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Yankees.

Ohtani didn't get any hits Tuesday, but he reached twice via walk and made an impact with his baserunning. He stole second in the fourth inning and stole home in the fifth. The 26-year-old is now tied for six in all of baseball with 22 steals. In addition, he still leads MLB with 42 long balls and is seventh with 90 RBI.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's game 8-7 win over the Yankees.

Ohtani crushed his league-leading 42nd homer off former teammate Andrew Heaney in the fifth inning to put the Angels back in front 6-5. On top of the homers, Ohtani hit the 90 RBI mark Monday which is good for sixth-most in baseball. The 26-year-old is now slashing .264/.362/.626 and has 86 runs scored, 20 steals and 67:159 BB:K over 516 plate appearances. The question now remains whether he'll pitch again this season after being scratched from his Tuesday start due to right wrist soreness. His X-rays came back negative after he was struck by a pitch Saturday but the Angels surely won't take any risks with the playoffs not a realistic possibility at this point.

Ohtani won't pitch as scheduled Tuesday against the Yankees after being hit by a pitch on his right hand/wrist over the weekend, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. The 27-year-old will bat second as the designated hitter Monday.

Ohtani appeared OK to pitch Tuesday since he was listed as the probable starter by the team, but he'll instead be limited to working as a hitter for the immediate future. X-rays came back negative after being struck by the pitch Saturday, and it's unclear whether the issue will affect his next turn through the rotation. Ohtani should continue to provide plenty of value at the plate, but it remains to be seen when he gets back on the mound.

Manager Joe Maddon said Ohtani (hand/wrist) won't make his scheduled start Tuesday after being hit by a pitch Saturday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

Despite being in the lineup as the designated hitter Monday, Ohtani is apparently still dealing with lingering effects from the HBP. There's been no indication of when the two-way phenom will take the mound again, although the fact he's hitting Monday suggests he'll be pitching sooner rather than later.

Ohtani (hand/wrist) will bat second as the designated hitter Monday against the Yankees.

Ohtani was struck on the right hand/wrist during Saturday's game against the Padres, but X-rays came back negative and he's ready to play following Sunday's scheduled off day. The 27-year-old is also listed as the Angels' probable starter for Tuesday's contest, so it also appears he's been cleared to take the mound.

Ohtani had X-rays on his right hand/wrist come back negative after being hit by a pitch Saturday, and he remains on track to pitch Tuesday against the Yankees, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was hit on the right hand/wrist by a pitch when he struck out during the first inning, but he never exited the contest and checked out alright after being evaluated. The 27-year-old went 0-for-4 with a walk, two runs and a stolen base -- his 20th of the season -- Saturday, and he'll have Sunday's scheduled off day to recover before potentially missing any action. Assuming Ohtani experiences no further issues, he should be back in the lineup at designated hitter Monday before taking the mound Tuesday versus New York.

Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's loss to the Orioles.

Ohtani led off the game with a solo shot to right field, but that was the lone offensive highlight for Los Angeles in the 13-1 loss to the squad with MLB's worst record. The long ball snapped his six-game homerless streak, during which he struck out 10 times in 21 at-bats. Despite the Angels' disappointing season, Ohtani has cemented his name as one of the league's brightest stars, leading all of baseball with 41 homers while emerging as a bona fide ace on the mound.

Ohtani allowed four runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in five innings of a no-decision Wednesday against Baltimore. He also went 0-for-4 at the plate with three strikeouts.

Ohtani had won each of his previous four starts on the mound, but he allowed a season-high three home runs in this one, with two of them coming in the first frame. He did leave with a 6-4 lead despite his issues with the long ball, but the Angels' bullpen imploded during a five-run eighth inning. Ohtani didn't fare any better at the dish, where he's now 3-for-18 (.167) with 10 strikeouts over his last five games.

Ohtani went 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and a strikeout as the Angels fell 3-0 to Cleveland on Sunday.

Ohtani was the Angels only productive hitter Sunday as he singled and stole second in the first inning and walked in the third and eighth to account for three of Los Angeles' eight baserunners in the game. The theft was his 19th, placing him in a tie for seventh in MLB, and Ohtani now has exactly four steals in each of the last four months.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI in Thursday's win over the Tigers.

Ohtani was one of three Angels to reach base at least four times in the team's wild comeback win. He scored a run in each of the sixth and seventh frames before producing a run on a sacrifice fly in the eighth. The two-way star's 88 RBI trails only Jose Abreu and Rafael Devers for most in MLB as he pushes toward consideration for American League MVP.

Ohtani pushed his record to 8-1 after holding the Tigers to one run on six hits and no walks while striking out eight over eight innings Wednesday in the Angels' 3-1 win. He also helped himself at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a solo home run.

Ohtani's eighth-inning blast off Jose Cisnero was his MLB-leading 40th of the season, a feat made all the more remarkable by the fact that he's supplemented his power production with a 2.79 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 100 innings on the mound. Since he failed to escape the first inning of a June 30 start against the Yankees in which he was charged with seven earned runs, Ohtani has been lights out as a pitcher, going 5-0 with a 1.57 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in six starts.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with three walks, a run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 8-2 victory over the Tigers.

Batting leadoff for the eighth straight contest, Ohtani reached base four times and helped manufacture a first-inning run by singling, swiping second and coming home on a single. The two-way star has walked 58 times in 118 games this season, exceeding his total across 152 contests during the previous two campaigns combined. He is on pace for a career-best .364 OBP.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base Saturday in a loss to the Astros.

The two-way star pushed his league-leading homer total to 39 with a solo shot leading off the Angels' half of the first inning. For good measure, he swiped his 17th bag of the campaign following a third-inning single. Ohtani and Fernando Tatis are the only players in baseball this season with at least 30 homers and 15 stolen bases.

Ohtani (7-1) allowed two runs on three hits and three walks with six strikeouts over six innings in Thursday's victory over the Blue Jays. He also went 1-for-3 at the plate with a double and a walk.

Ohtani turned in a steady performance on the mound, limiting to the potent Blue Jays lineup to just a pair of runs while chalking up his fifth consecutive quality start. Toronto was only able to get to Ohtani in the fourth inning, with its runs coming on a Teoscar Hernandez RBI single and a Randal Grichuk run-scoring double. At the dish, Ohtani drilled his Major League-leading 68th extra-base hit of the year with a leadoff double off the center-field wall in the first. He's tentatively scheduled to make his next start on the mound next week at Detroit.

Ohtani will hit atop the Angels' lineup and also serve as the starting pitcher Thursday against the Blue Jays, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani is leading off for the third game in a row after blasting his first home run since July 28 on Wednesday. He'll also take the mound for the first time since Aug. 4, when he threw six innings and allowed only one earned run.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk Wednesday in the Angels' 10-2 loss to the Blue Jays.

Hitting leadoff for the second game in a row after typically hitting in the two hole for most of the season, Ohtani was able to put an end to his recent power outage. His 413-blast off Alek Manoah in the third inning was his first home run since July 28, but thanks to his massive first half, he still leads MLB with 38 long balls on the season. Ohtani is scheduled to start Thursday's series finale as a pitcher, but manager Joe Maddon said after Wednesday's game that he expects the two-way phenom to hit for himself, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani is out of the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers.

Ohtani remains on the bench for the third straight game with the Angels finishing up a road series versus the Dodgers on Sunday. The 27-year-old has appeared in the outfield a few times this season but hasn't started any contests, so it's not a surprise to see him on the bench with the Halos in a National League Park. Ohtani should rejoin the lineup Tuesday for the start of the four-game series against the Blue Jays.

Ohtani will be available off the bench for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.

Ohtani pinch hit in the 10th inning Friday, only to be intentionally walked. It's unclear if the two-way star will be in the starting nine Sunday, or if he'll just get some additional rest before the Angels return home to face Toronto.

Ohtani (6-1) allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks while striking out six across six innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Rangers.

Ohtani allowed a leadoff double in the sixth inning, which ultimately led to the only against him in the outing. After posting a 5.3 BB/9 across his first 60 innings, Ohtani has walked only one batter across his last four starts -- a span 26 frames. His improved control continued Wednesday, as 59 of his 86 pitches went for strikes and he began 17 of the 22 batters he faced with a strike. Ohtani was also in Wednesday's lineup, though he went 0-for-3 at the plate.

Ohtani will make his next start Wednesday at Texas, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Angels manager Joe Maddon had previously suggested that a sore thumb would prevent Ohtani from returning to the mound until at least Thursday, but the two-way star is now on track to return a day earlier. According to the Associated Press, Ohtani "felt good" while throwing before Monday's contest, which no doubt was a key factor in the decision to start him Wednesday. The right-handed hurler has posted a 3.04 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 100:36 K:BB across 80 innings this season.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said that Ohtani, who is managing a sore thumb, won't be available to pitch again until at least Thursday in the finale of Los Angeles' upcoming series with the Rangers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The injury doesn't affect Ohtani at the plate, so he'll remain in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against Oakland as the Angels' designated hitter. Before the Angels pencil Ohtani back into their pitching schedule, he'll presumably need to complete a bullpen session without any discomfort. If Ohtani isn't deemed ready to pitch in Arlington, Maddon said the right-hander could rejoin the rotation for the Angels' Freeway Series with the Dodgers next weekend.

Ohtani bat second and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against Oakland despite a sore thumb which will keep him from pitching for a few days.

The Angels didn't expect the injury to prevent Ohtani from hitting, but it's still good to see it confirmed. The issue doesn't seem to be particularly serious one, as he's in the mix to start as soon as Monday.

Ohtani won't start Sunday's game against Oakland due to a sore thumb, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani should still be available as the designated hitter in the Angels' weekend series against Oakland, but his next start as a pitcher will be pushed back after a ball hit the thumb on his throwing hand in the dugout recently. Manager Joe Maddon downplayed the severity of the issue and said the right-hander could still start Monday's game. Jaime Barria will start Saturday's contest, while Reid Detmers will make his major-league debut Sunday.

Ohtani went 0-for-1 with three walks and a stolen base in Thursday's loss to Oakland.

The Angels managed only three hits in the contest, so Ohtani's ability to draw free passes in the contest went for naught. Still, the two-way star managed to contribute to fantasy squads by swiping his 15th bae of the season. Over his past five games, Ohtani has drawn seven walks and stolen three bases in addition to slamming three home runs.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies.

The slugger had only one hit in the contest, but he still managed to drop jaws with his 463-foot solo blast to center field in the fifth inning. The long ball was Ohtani's major-league-leading 36th of the campaign. Per Megan Garcia of MLB.com, Ohtani also leads the league with six homers of over 450 feet on the season.

Ohtani (5-1) picked up the win in Monday's 6-2 victory over the Rockies, allowing one run on five hits over seven innings. He struck out five without walking a batter, and also went 1-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base.

It's not the first time Ohtani has produced more offense with his bat than he surrendered on the mound. A Dom Nunez solo shot in the fifth inning was the only blemish on his pitching line, and the 27-year-old phenom has delivered quality starts in three straight outings, giving him eight on the season. Ohtani will carry a 3.04 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 100:36 K:BB through 80 innings into his next start.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Saturday night's 2-1 win over the Twins.

After getting Friday off amidst a 4-for-24 post-All-Star break slump, Ohtani broke out with a pair of doubles Saturday. Both were hit sharply, and the designated hitter looked fluid as he legged them out. Nobody was asked to do more during All-Star Weekend than Ohtani, so it makes sense that the 27-year-old would be a little fatigued returning from Denver. The day off might have been just what he needed to get back on track.

Ohtani is not in the lineup Friday against the Twins, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Including days he's pitched, Ohtani has been in the lineup for each of the past 30 games, and he'll receive the day off Friday while mired in a 4-for-24 slump since the All-Star break. He's especially struggled over the past two contests with six strikeouts, so it's not a bad idea to provide him a day to reset. Justin Upton will serve as the designated hitter in his place while Juan Lagares starts in left field.

Ohtani went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's win over the Twins.

Believers in the mostly-debunked Home Run Derby curse are likely keeping tabs on Ohtani's performance, as he has gone 4-for-24 with 14 strikeouts since he participated in the contest. That said, manager Joe Maddon indicated that he is not worried about the two-way star in spite of his recent struggles, per the Associated Press. "He feels good. He's upbeat. He's constantly conversing with everybody. He'll come out of this thing. He's not going to be perfect all year," Maddon said.

Ohtani allowed three hits and a walk but had eight strikeouts over six scoreless innings Monday in a no-decision against the Athletics. He also went 1-for-4 at the plate with a double.

Ohtani traded zeroes on the scoreboard with opposing starter Cole Irvin for six innings. His brilliant effort all went to waste in the seventh when Steve Cishek allowed three runs on one swing of the bat. The Athletics threatened to score on a few occasions but Ohtani was able to shut the door on them each time. He induced 14 swinging strikes and had at least eight strikeouts for the first time in nearly a month. The 27-year-old two-way superstar owns a 3.21 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 36:4 K:BB over 73 innings and tentatively lines up for a favorable matchup against the Rockies at the beginning of next week.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a pair of walks Sunday against Seattle.

Ohtani crushed a Paul Sewald offering to right-center in the ninth inning for his major-league leading 34th home run of the year, and his ninth in the last 15 games. He's now slashing .277/.363/.688 in 358 plate appearances this season, adding 74 RBI and 12 stolen bases (16 attempts). Ohtani is tentatively slated to make a pair of road starts on mound next week, facing Oakland on Monday and Minnesota on Sunday.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Mariners.

Ohtani doubled his first time up and then later walked and scored off a sacrifice fly during a three-run ninth inning. The 26-year-old completes a historic first half of the season with the bat, slashing .279/.364/.698 with a league-best 33 home runs to go along with 70 RBI, 65 runs scored, 12 steals, and a 38:98 BB:K over 343 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to Seattle.

The two-way star's solo shot in the third inning wasn't cheap -- it went 463 feet to right field. The long ball was Ohtani's league-leading 33rd of the season and 16th in his past 21 games. Per Sarah Langs of MLB.com, Ohtani is only the seventh player in MLB history to accomplish that feat, and the first American Leaguer. Needless to say, he is paying huge dividends for fantasy managers who plugged him into their lineup as a hitter this season.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored.

The 27-year-old extended his major-league leading homer total to 32 with a go-ahead solo shot in the fifth inning. Ohtani hasn't gone more than two games without a long ball since June 15. The two-way superstar is slashing .279/.364/.700 with 69 RBI, 63 runs scored and 12 stolen bases through 330 plate appearances.

Ohtani (4-1) picked up the win in Tuesday's 5-3 victory over the Red Sox, allowing two runs on five hits over seven innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The two-way superstar also went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI while batting for himself. Ohtani bounced back nicely after a disastrous last trip to the mound, and Tuesday's quality start was his sixth of the season. He'll head into the All-Star break with a 3.49 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 87:35 K:BB through 67 innings as a pitcher in addition to his massive hitting numbers.

Ohtani is batting second as the starting pitcher Tuesday against the Red Sox.

Ohtani will remain in the lineup as the pitcher despite his last start resulting in the Angels being forced to remove him in the first inning.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Orioles.

Ohtani went deep off of Tom Eshelman in the third inning for his league-leading 31st home run of the year. He has eight homers in his last nine games and has firmly entrenched himself ahead of everyone else as the home run king in baseball. For the year Ohtani is slashing .278/.366/.704 with 52 extra-base hits, 67 RBI, 60 runs scored, 12 steals and a 36:89 BB:K over 317 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 0-for-2 with three walks and a run scored in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Orioles.

Although Ohtani didn't have a hit in this game, he was still very productive, reaching base three times. He is the hottest man on the earth right now, and it's clear that pitchers are being very cautious when pitching to him. The 26-year-old is batting .321 with an OPS of 1.522 in his last 16 games. He has 13 home runs, 21 RBI and 11 walks in that stretch. On the season, he is slashing .278/.367/.700 with the most homers in all of baseball (30), 66 RBI and 12 steals in 313 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with two homers, three runs scored, three RBI, a walk and a steal in Friday's 8-7 win over Baltimore.

Ohtani's hot streak at the plate continues to terrorize opposing pitchers. He crushed his 29th and 30th long balls of the season Friday, including a two-run shot to give the Angels the lead in the fourth inning. He later walked and swiped second base before scoring the game-winning run in the ninth. The lefty slugger is now slashing .280/.364/.705 with 51 extra-base hits, 12 stolen bases and 66 RBI. Ohtani has six homers in the last five games and 13 over his last 15 appearances.

Ohtani retired only two batters in Wednesday's start against the Yankees, allowing seven runs on two hits and four walks while striking out one. He did not factor in the decision.

Ohtani was clearly off his game in the ugly outing, as he threw only 20 of 41 pitches for strikes and issued four free passes while getting only two outs. He also hit a batter and surrendered two singles. The early exit cost Ohtani the chance to make an impact at the plate, as he was forced out of the lineup after only one at-bat. Remarkably, the seven-run implosion didn't result in a loss for the right-hander, as the Angels posted seven runs in the ninth inning to complete a comeback win. Ohtani's ERA jumped over a run from 2.58 to 3.60 as a result of the poor start, and he now holds a troubling 5.2 BB/9 on the campaign. He's been able to navigate around control issues thanks in part to a 12. K/9, and prior to Wednesday he hadn't walked more than two batters in any of his previous four contests. Ohtani will try to bounce back from the rough appearance in his next start, which lines up to come at home versus Boston early next week.

Ohtani is leading off as the starting pitcher Wednesday against the Yankees, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani will hit again as the starting pitcher, this time as the leadoff hitter. Ohtani blasted two homers in Tuesday's loss and has four total homers across his last three games.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI during Tuesday's 11-5 loss to the Yankees.

The 26-year-old hit a pair of rockets to right field and now has five long balls in his past five games. Ohtani is slashing .278/.361/.688 and leads the majors with 28 home runs while ranking third with 63 RBI. He'll take the mound Wednesday, and manager Joe Maddon said the right-hander will hit for himself, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, so he should have at least a couple at-bats to do some damage at the plate.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo homer in Monday's 5-3 win over the Yankees.

Ohtani took Michael King deep in the first inning for his 26th homer of the year. He's racked up 11 homers this month, including seven over his last nine games. The 26-year-old slugger is slashing .276/.360/.670 with 60 RBI through 297 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a homer, a triple, a double, three RBI, two runs scored, a steal and a walk in Sunday's 6-4 win over the Rays.

Somehow, Ohtani continues to find new ways to impress almost every day. He drove in runs in the sixth and seven innings before launching a solo blast in the ninth to give the Angels some cushion. The two-way superstar is now slashing .277/.363/.668 with 25 homers, 11 stolen bases and 59 RBI. He's racked up eight home runs and 10 runs scored over the last 11 games.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Friday's loss to the Rays.

The two-way phenom continues to dominate at the plate, sending a 453-foot blast in the first innings for his 24th homer of the season. Ohtani has racked up 42 extra-base hits alongside a .996 OPS through 283 plate appearances. He's knocked seven homers over the last nine games.

Ohtani allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out nine across six innings Wednesday against the Giants. He did not factor into the decision.

Ohtani dominated the Giants, with the only he surrendered coming on a solo home run by Mike Yastrzemski in the fifth frame. He also induced an impressive 21 swinging strikes on 105 total pitches to claim his fifth quality start in his last seven outings. Despite starting on the mound, Ohtani served as the team's designated hitter, though he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Ohtani will bat second in Wednesday's game against the Giants, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani is serving as the starting pitcher in Wednesday's matchup, and the Angels will forgo the designated hitter, even with Justin Upton (back) out of the lineup. The two-way player has been hot at the plate recently, as he's hit .280 with six home runs, nine RBI, six runs, a stolen base and five walks across his last seven games as a hitter.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Sunday in the Angels' 5-3 loss to the Tigers.

The 414-foot blast off Casey Mize in the fifth inning was Ohtani's 23rd of the season, tying him with the Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero for the MLB lead. Ohtani will likely remain in the lineup as a designated hitter in the Angels' next game Tuesday at home versus the Giants before he returns to the mound in the series finale Wednesday for his 11th start of the season as a pitcher.

Ohtani will make his next start on the mound Wednesday against the Giants.

The 26-year-old last pitched Thursday and delivered a quality start against the Tigers, and he'll take the mound Wednesday on five days rest. Ohtani will continue to serve as the Halos' designated hitter in the meantime, and he's batting second Sunday versus Detroit.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 8-3 win over Detroit.

The 26-year-old has now blasted five homers and driven in seven in his last five games. The only time Ohtani didn't homer in that span was his pitching start versus Detroit on Thursday. The two-way star is hitting .272/.356/.643 with 22 homers, 52 RBI, 47 runs scored and 10 stolen bases through 267 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs and three total RBI in an 11-3 win over Detroit on Friday.

Ohtani's first homer was a two-run blast that was one of three long balls hit by the Angels in the fifth inning. In the eighth, he went deep again to register his first multi-homer game of the season. Ohtani's two homers moved him into third place in the league this season with 21, one behind both Fernando Tatis and Vladimir Guerrero. Four of Ohtani's roundtrippers have come in his past four games.

Ohtani (3-1) earned the win Thursday against the Tigers after tossing six innings of one-run ball, allowing five hits and a walk while fanning five.

This was Ohtani's fourth quality start of the season and all four have come over his last six outings -- plus, he's now allowed two or fewer runs in six of his last seven starts. The right-hander owns an excellent 2.70 ERA and is scheduled to make his next start against the Rays on the road next week.

Ohtani will bat second Thursday against Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani will take the mound as the starting pitcher in the game, but he will also be in the lineup. This is the seventh time this season that he will start the game as a two-way player. Ohtani has maintained an outstanding .271/.350/.618 line across 254 plate plate appearances while also logging a 2.85 ERA and 1.18 WHIP across 47.1 frames.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the A's.

His second-inning blast off Cole Irvin was Ohtani's 19th homer of the year, while his fifth-inning steal was his 10th. The 26-year-old is now the fourth player in MLB and the first in the AL to reach double digits in both categories, joining Ronald Acuna, Fernando Tatis and Trea Turner.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Athletics.

Ohtani's 429-foot solo shot to right field in the eighth inning brought the Angels to within two runs, though the team was ultimately unable to complete a comeback. The long ball was Ohtani's 18th this season, tying him for third-most leaguewide. He has complemented the homer total with a .267/.348/.606 slash line, 46 RBI and nine stolen bases.

Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks.

Ohtani has played 6.1 innings in the corner outfield this season, but the Angels have thus far been unwilling to have him make a start in the field on his non-pitching days. With no designated-hitter spot available at Chase Field, Ohtani will be limited to a bench role for the second day in a row.

Ohtani will not be in the lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani got to play both sides of the ball Friday, as he struck out eight on the mound and grabbed a pair of hits at the plate. There's no designated hitter available with the series taking place under National League rules, however, so Ohtani will likely be stuck on the bench Sunday as well.

Ohtani started Friday's 6-5 win over Arizona, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with eight strikeouts. At the plate he went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a run and an RBI.

Ohtani has been showcasing his well-rounded skillset all season and Friday was yet another example. This was his fourth quality start in 10 turns though he's allowed four runs or less in each appearance on the mound this season. Ohtani is now tied for the MLB lead in extra-base hits with Nick Castellanos at 35.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a double, an additional run scored and a walk in Tuesday's 8-1 win over the Royals.

Ohtani slammed a two-run shot off Kris Bubic in the first inning to put the Angels up early. His 17th long ball of the season Tuesday lands Ohtani in second for most homers in the American League. In addition, he leads the Angles in RBI (44), runs (40) and stolen bases (9). He has displayed a premium amount of combined power and speed, ranking third in all of baseball in home runs plus steals. The 26-year-old is slashing .261/.346/.606 in 231 plate appearances.

Manager Joe Maddon confirmed Tuesday that Ohtani will be the starting pitcher for Friday's game against Arizona, but said that he doesn't plan on having the two-way star start in the outfield during the remainder of the series, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani will hit as the pitcher in the NL park Friday, but based on Maddon's comments, he'll be limited to pinch-hit duty Saturday and Sunday. Ohtani has previously logged innings in the outfield, so it's possible he could see some time out there off the bench over the weekend.

Ohtani went 0-for-1 with three walks and a run in an 8-3 victory over Kansas City on Monday.

Ohtani has taken three free passes in back-to-back contests and has notched a stolen base in each game. Though he has hit only one home run and has gone 5-for-29 over his past 10 contests, Ohtani has collected three thefts over that period to maintain some useful fantasy production.

Ohtani went 0-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and a run in Sunday's loss to Seattle.

The two-way star struck out twice but also worked three walks. As a point of comparison, Ohtani took only three free passes throughout the entire month of April, so he seems to be developing a keener eye at the plate as the season progresses. Ohtani has been a threat on the basepaths throughout the campaign, totaling eight steals in 11 attempts.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, double, an additional RBI and two strikeouts in a 12-5 win over the Mariners on Saturday.

One night after taking the mound Ohtani blasted a solo shot to center in the first and lined an eighth inning double to account for the Angels' first and last runs on the game. The first inning home run snapped an 11 at-bat hitless stretch though Ohtani brings much more to the table than just his contributions at the plate.

Ohtani (2-1) earned the win against Seattle on Friday, pitching six innings and allowing two runs on four hits and no walks while striking out 10.

Ohtani's outing started out poorly as J.P. Crawford stung him for a leadoff home run. However, the right-hander bounced back with a solid six innings, allowing only one more run while tying his season high with 10 strikeouts. Ohtani has registered a quality start in three of his past four appearances, posting a 30:7 K:BB across 23.2 innings over that stretch. He is expected to make his next start at Arizona next weekend.

Ohtani will be in the Angels' offensive lineup as the starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The Halos have gone back and forth between utilizing Ohtani as a hitter on the days he pitches. The two-way star did not hit in his previous two starts May 19 and May 28, but appears in line to participate on both sides of the ball Friday.

Ohtani is sitting for the second consecutive game in San Francisco, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The two-way star will be available as a pinch-hitter after walking in his one plate appearance Monday. Ohtani figures to return to the everyday lineup when not pitching once the Angels return to American League rules Thursday.

Ohtani is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Angels won't have the designated hitter available for their two-game set in San Francisco, so Ohtani will be on the bench Monday, and most likely Tuesday as well. Manager Joe Maddon suggested Ohtani could come off the bench as a pinch-hitter and possibly play a couple innings in the outfield late in the contest if the Angels need his powerful bat in the lineup.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a run scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's 4-0 win over the A's.

The Angels did all their scoring in the top of the fifth inning, with Ohtani's two-run single being the biggest blow. The 26-year-old is hitting .269 on the season with a .940 OPS, along with 15 homers, seven steals, 35 runs and 40 RBI.

Ohtani (1-1) pitched six innings against Oakland on Friday, allowing three runs on three hits and four walks while striking out five and taking the loss.

Ohtani didn't appear to be phased by pitching a day later than planned after transportation issues caused him to be scratched Thursday. The right-hander kept Oakland off the scoreboard for five innings before allowing a run in the sixth frame. He was chased in the seventh, however, after giving up a pair of walks and a single without retiring a batter. Ohtani ended up with the loss despite notching his second quality start of the campaign. He has pitched to a 2.72 ERA and 50:26 K:BB across 36.1 innings this season while also smashing 15 home runs as a batter. Ohtani's next start will likely come at home against the Mariners next week.

Ohtani isn't in the lineup as the designated hitter for Friday's game against Oakland.

Ohtani is serving as the starting pitcher Friday, but he won't be utilized as a two-way player since the Angels are dealing with a short bench. Phil Gosselin will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth.

Ohtani was scratched from Thursday's start due to transportation issues, but will now start Friday against the Athletics instead, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was on a team bus that got stuck in traffic, so he would not have gotten to the ballpark in time to properly prepare for his start. Instead he will serve as the designated hitter and bat second Thursday, and he will be lined up to take the mound Friday.

After not being in the original lineup, Ohtani will now bat second and serve as the designated hitter Thursday against the Athletics.

Ohtani was scratched from his start on the mound, but he will now be a part of the lineup. He takes the place of Phil Gosselin as the designated hitter.

Ohtani will not be the starting pitcher for Thursday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

There has been no explanation yet for the shift in plans, though Ohtani is also not in the batting order for the contest. Patrick Sandoval will take the mound in Ohtani's place.

Ohtani isn't in the lineup as the designated hitter for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Ohtani is serving as the starting pitcher in Thursday's matchup, but he won't be utilized as a two-way player to begin the game. Phil Gosselin will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a pair of walks in Tuesday's victory over Texas.

The two-way star crushed a three-run shot in the fourth inning, smoking a ball that left his bat at 117 mph. Per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, the blast was the hardest-hit homer of his career. Ohtani is tied for second in the league with 15 long balls on the season and has added 38 RBI, six stolen bases and a .269/.326/.632 slash line.

Ohtani will take the mound Thursday against the Athletics, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Angels previously indicated the 26-year-old lined up to pitch Friday, but he'll instead start a day earlier in the series opener. The right-hander showed some decreased velocity in his previous start last Wednesday, but it's apparently not a concern. Ohtani is batting second as the designated hitter for Tuesday's matchup with the Rangers.

Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.

Per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, manager Joe Maddon said that the Athletics bringing a lefty (Sean Manaea) to hill in additional to the Angels having Monday off were factors in the decision to let the lefty hitting Ohtani sit out Sunday. Maddon noted that he still expects the two-way star to serve as a designated hitter throughout the Angels' upcoming six-game week, aside from the day the southpaw pitches. Ohtani tentatively lines up to make his next start on the mound Friday in Oakland.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double, triple, RBI and two strikeouts in Saturday's 6-2 loss to Oakland.

Ohtani was stranded on second after a two-out double in the sixth and brought home a run with his eighth-inning triple. A .320 on base is about average but a .619 slugging brings his OPS to .939, a mark that places Ohtani among the league leaders.

Ohtani is tentatively scheduled to pitch Friday against the A's, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The 26-year-old surrendered two runs over 4.2 innings while showing slightly decreased velocity during his previous start Wednesday, so he'll receive a couple extra days before his next outing. Ohtani should continue to operate as the Halos' regular designated hitter in the meantime.

Ohtani isn't starting Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Twins, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani's fastball velocity was down during Wednesday's start against Cleveland, although manager Joe Maddon said that the right-hander simply "wasn't feeling his fastball." Anthony Rendon will serve as the designated hitter in Thursday's matinee while Jose Rojas starts at third base.

Ohtani allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings Wednesday's loss against Cleveland but did not factor into the decision. He also went 1-for-3 as a hitter.

Ohtani allowed Cleveland to get on the board early with an RBI double in the first by Franmil Reyes. He later allowed a leadoff homer to Jake Bauers in the fifth and was eventually pulled following a two-out walk. A concerning observation was that his fastball velocity was down over five miles per hour during most of the game, although manager Joe Maddon assured afterward that nothing was wrong and Ohtani just "wasn't feeling his fastball." HIs five strikeouts were the fewest he's had in a start this season and he failed to last five innings for the first time since April 20. He owns a solid 2.37 ERA and 45:22 K:BB over 30.1 innings but that has only led to one win in his first six outings. He should return to the mound again next week and will need to continue crushing at the plate in the meantime with Mike Trout (calf) out for the next 6-8 weeks.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to Cleveland.

Ohtani hit a no-doubter 440-foot homer in the first inning for his fourth home run in his last five games. The 26-year-old continues to be the talk of the league as he leads all of baseball with 14 home runs and will be counted on to produce even more with Mike Trout out 6-8 weeks with a calf strain. The two-way sensation is slashing .271/.323/.632 with 33 RBI, 32 runs scored and is just outside the top 10 with a .956 OPS.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, two walks and two runs scored in Monday's 7-4 win over Cleveland.

Ohtani continues to impress on a nightly basis, this time, crushing a neck-high fastball 431 feet for his league-leading 13th homer of the year. The two-way superstar owns a .925 OPS with 25 extra-base hits across 163 plate appearances. After a short six-game home run drought, Ohtani has gone deep three times in the last four games.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and a strikeout in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Red Sox.

Ohtani went hitless in his first four at-bats Sunday, but he blasted a go-ahead home run with two outs in the ninth inning of the contest. Ohtani has gone 4-for-13 with two home runs, a double, three RBI and six strikeouts in the last three games.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox.

He produced the Angels' first run in the top of the sixth inning as he swatted a Nick Pivetta offering over the Green Monster. Ohtani has slowed down somewhat at the plate, going 11-for-48 (.229) through 12 games in May, but he's still launched three of his 11 homers on the year during that stretch.

Ohtani's next start was pushed back due to fatigue Friday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The Angels have allowed Ohtani to take on as heavy a workload as he can on both sides of the ball this year, though that's required frequent minor adjustments to his schedule. He's reportedly not injured but will need a bit more time before he's ready to return to the mound. He won't start Tuesday against Cleveland as previously scheduled but should be on the mound somewhere between Wednesday and next Friday.

Ohtani allowed one earned run on four hits and a walk while striking out 10 across seven innings in the loss Tuesday to the Astros. He did not factor into the decision. At the plate, he went 1-for-4.

Ohtani did everything he could to keep the Angels in the game Tuesday. His only earned run came on a fifth-inning home run by Kyle Tucker. The two-way player has struggled with command this season, walking 19 batters through his first four starts. However, he didn't show any signs of struggle against the Astros, walking only one batter and reaching double-digit strikeouts for the first time this season. In addition, he batted second and hit a single in the seventh inning. If that wasn't enough, after he was relieved in the eighth inning he stayed in the game and finished in right field.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's loss to the Rays.

The left-handed hitter hit a homer run off Josh Fleming in the third inning. It was the tenth dinger for the electric Ohtani and he is now slashing .273/.322/.645 in 2021.

Ohtani completed five scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on Wednesday, allowing one hit and six walks while striking out seven. He did not factor in the decision.

The two-way star appeared downright dominant at times against the defending American League champions, racking up 15 swinging strikes and limiting the Rays to only one hit (a single). However, he also threw a wild pitch and walked six batters, pushing his pitch count to 84 and contributing to a somewhat early exit. Ohtani's 2.41 ERA and 37.1 percent strikeout rate through four starts are undoubtedly impressive, but his 1.39 WHIP and 21.0 percent walk rate provide some reason for concern. Still, Ohtani is showing this season that his potential is almost boundless, making him a valuable fantasy asset as both a hitter and a pitcher. His next start on the mound will likely come at Houston near the beginning of next week.

Ohtani will be the Angels' starting pitcher Wednesday against the Rays but won't serve as the designated hitter, Daniel Guerrero of MLB.com reports.

The 26-year-old has served as the designated hitter while pitching this season, but he won't do so Wednesday since the Halos have a short bench with Anthony Rendon (knee) and Justin Upton (knee) banged up. Ohtani will take the mound for the fourth time this season and should return to the batter's box in Thursday's series finale.

Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled is scheduled to be the Angels' starting pitcher Wednesday against the Rays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

The 26-year-old previously line up to start Monday but was pushed back after being hit by a pitch on his right elbow, but he'll end up taking the mound only two days later. Ohtani is serving as the designated hitter Tuesday and could do so again Wednesday despite being the starter pitcher.

Ohtani (elbow) will be re-evaluated Tuesday and could make his next start as soon as Wednesday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani was scratched from his start Monday after being hit with a pitch on his right elbow the day before, but he was still in the lineup as the team's DH and clocked his ninth home run. The two-way star came out of the contest feeling fine, providing optimism that he can return to the mound soon. That return could come Wednesday against the Rays, though it could also come later in the week against the Dodgers, according to manager Joe Maddon. Regardless of the timing of his next pitching start, it appears that Ohtani's availability as a hitter won't be affected by the sore elbow.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Rays.

Ohtani was kept off the mound as a precaution Monday but was feeling healthy enough to crush a 427-foot blast off Tyler Glasnow in the sixth inning. The two-way phenom moved back into a tie for the MLB home run lead with nine. He's slashing .272/.318/.641 with 17 extra-base hits and 22 RBI.

Ohtani (elbow) will bat second and serve as the designated hitter Monday against the Rays despite being scratched from his scheduled turn on the mound.

Ohtani won't make his scheduled start after getting hit in his right (pitching) elbow Sunday against the Mariners, but the issue evidently doesn't bother him while he swings. Jose Quintana will replace him on the mound. It's unclear when Ohtani is next expected to take the hill.

Ohtani (elbow) has been scratched from his scheduled start for Monday's game against the Rays.

Ohtani was hit by a pitch on his right elbow in Sunday's loss to the Mariners and was feeling sore afterward. Jose Quintana will take his place as Monday's starter, and it's not yet clear when Ohtani will be able to pitch.

Ohtani's elbow is sore after Sunday's loss to the Mariners since he was hit by a pitch in the top of the first inning, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was able to remain in Sunday's game after he was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat, and he went 0-for-3 with two stolen bases. The right-hander is scheduled to pitch in Monday's series opener against the Rays, and manager Joe Maddon said Sunday that he isn't yet sure whether Ohtani's soreness will impact his pitching availability.

Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk, a run, an RBI and a stolen base in a 10-5 win over Seattle on Saturday.

Ohtani didn't manage to collect a hit in the contest, but he still contributed amidst a big day by the Angels offense. The two-way star scored the game's first run on a Mike Trout homer in the first inning, then knocked in a run with a groundout in the second. Ohtani has been among the game's elite offensive performers through the early stages of the campaign, racking up eight homers, 20 RBI, 19 runs and four stolen bases while slashing .271/.314/.625.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to Seattle.

Ohtani took Chris Flexen deep to right field in the third inning to give the Angels a short-lived 3-2 lead. The long ball was his eighth of the season, placing him just one homer behind J.D. Martinez for the league lead. Ohtani is off to a hot start at the plate this season, complementing his homer total with a .283/.320/.652 slash line, 18 runs and 19 RBI.

Ohtani was removed from Monday's game against the Rangers as a precaution after a blister began to form on his pitching hand, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The club believes they removed Ohtani from the contest before the hot spot became an issue, and the 26-year-old stated after the game that he wants to be right back in the starting lineup as a batter Tuesday, per Bollinger. However, it wouldn't be a shock to see the Angels hold Ohtani out of the second matchup of the series as a precaution. He'll be considered day-to-day.

Ohtani (1-0) earned the win Monday after holding the Rangers to four runs on three hits and a pair of walks while striking out nine across five innings. At the plate, Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a walk and three runs scored.

Making his first start on the road this season, Ohtani got off to a shaky first inning that was highlighted by a three-run home run by Nate Lowe, a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by David Dahl. Ohtani has struggled with command this season, including first-pitch strike percentage, registering under 50 percent while tallying 13 walks in 13.2 innings. The two-way player helped his own cause in the second inning by hitting a two-run double and eventually scoring a game-tying run. From there, Ohtani regained his confidence on the mound, blanking the Rangers the rest of the way. His success continued at the plate as well, including a bunt and a run scored in the sixth. It was only the second time in Ohtani's MLB career that he both pitched and hit during a game. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old made history by becoming the first player since Babe Ruth in 1921 to start a game on the mound while also leading the MLB in home runs. Ohtani will look to continue his success at home Monday against the Rays.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run -- his seventh of the season -- in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Astros.

Ohtani's 440-foot blast off Luis Garcia in the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie and allowed the Angels to snap a four-game losing streak while getting back to .500 on the season. He's now left the yard in three of his last five starts as a designated hitter, but if he sticks in the lineup Monday in Texas, he'll be batting out of the pitcher's spot. Since overcoming a blister he developed earlier this month, Ohtani will be making his second appearance on the mound, with his previous outing also coming against the Rangers. He'll be looking to show improved control in the rematch after he issued six walks over just four innings in the prior game.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 16-2 loss to the Astros.

He connected on his sixth homer of the season in the third inning off Kent Emanuel, but it was the last run the Angels would score on the day. Perhaps more importantly, Ohtani saw action late in the blowout in left field, his first appearance as anything other than a pitcher or DH in his big-league career. If manager Joe Maddon continues to find creative ways to deploy his talented two-way threat, it could lead to additional positional flexibility for Ohtani down the road in many fantasy formats.

Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and a stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to Houston.

Ohtani singled and stole second base in the first inning. He later broke the 0-0 tie with his RBI double in the fifth. The 26-year-old star is slashing .294/.333/.632 with 11 extra-base hits and 14 RBI on the year.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-4 loss to the Rangers.

He took Mike Foltynewicz deep in the third inning, one of four solo shots by the Angels on the night. Ohtani continued to swing a hot stick, slashing .310/..355/.690 through 15 games at DH with five homers, two steals, 12 runs and 13 RBI.

Ohtani pitched four scoreless innings on one hit and six walks while striking out seven in the win Tuesday against the Rangers. He did not factor in the decision.

There are two sides to the story for Ohtani on Tuesday. He managed to get through four innings on his limited pitch count without allowing any runs and fanning seven. However, his six walks are concerning. The two-way player has struggled in the past with command issues and his high walk rate seems to be a consistent issue, especially coming against one of the worst offenses in the league. He has 11 walks in 8.2 innings this season.

Ohtani (blister) will be limited to around 75 pitches during Tuesday's start against the Rangers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

As expected, Ohtani will be somewhat limited in just his second start of the season. Manager Joe Maddon also stated that Ohtani won't be hitting Tuesday, "just in case something went awry early and we had to scramble with a short bench, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani (blister) is listed as the Angels' probable pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani completed a 30-pitch bullpen session with no issues Saturday and won't require another session on the mound before rejoining the starting rotation. The 26-year-old made his first start of the season April 4, but he's been unable to pitch over the past couple weeks due to the blister. The right-hander figures to face some limitations Tuesday given it will be two weeks between his first and second starts of the season.

Manager Joe Maddon said Ohtani (blister) could start as early as Tuesday without needing another bullpen session, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 26-year-old completed a 30-pitch bullpen session off the main mound at Angel Stadium on Saturday with no issues, which could be his final tune-up before making his return to a game mound. Ohtani hasn't pitched in a game since his season debut on the mound April 4 due to the blister, so he's unlikely to be cleared immediately for a full workload. He's serving as the designated hitter again Saturday in the meantime.

Ohtani threw about 30 pitches off the main mound at Angel Stadium on Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's pitch count crept up during Saturday's side session as he continues to recover from a blistered right middle finger. It's not yet clear when the right-hander will make his return to the mound in a game, but he'll serve as the designated hitter and bat second once again in Saturday's matchup against the Twins.

Ohtani will throw a side session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani threw a 23-pitch bullpen session Wednesday without a bandage covering his blistered middle right finger, and manager Joe Maddon said that Saturday's throwing session should determine when the right-hander will be able to make his next outing. Ohtani has still been able to hit while working through his finger injury and is serving as the designated hitter while batting second in Friday's game against Minnesota.

Ohtani threw a 23-pitch bullpen session Wednesday without a bandage covering his blistered right middle finger, but the Angels have yet to determine when he'll make his next start on the mound, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

After throwing a light, 10-pitch bullpen session Monday, Ohtani took a step forward in terms of intensity and volume of pitches Wednesday. The Angels will check back in on Ohtani on Thursday before deciding when to reintegrate him into the rotation, but he won't be an option for this weekend's three-game series versus Minnesota, as the Angels have already penciled in other pitchers to start Friday through Sunday. Ohtani -- who is serving as a designated hitter in Wednesday's series finale with the Royals -- could rejoin the rotation as soon as April 19 versus the Rangers. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, manager Joe Maddon said that whenever Ohtani makes his next start on the mound, his pitch count will likely be "dialed back" as a precaution. Maddon also hinted that Ohtani could be piggybacked in that outing by a long reliever.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Royals.

Ohtani tagged Danny Duffy for a 431-foot homer in the fifth inning, marking the only run allowed by the Kansas City hurler in the contest. Ohtani also collected a pair of singles for his third multi-hit game over his past five contests. While the two-way star has been able to make only one start on the mound this season, he has shined at the plate, slashing .364/.391/.795 with four homers and 12 RBI across 46 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Royals.

Ohtani's two-run double in the seventh inning had an exit velocity of 119 mph. As Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com notes, Ohtani is just the fifth player to reach 119 mph since Statcast was introduced in 2015. The other four: Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Nelson Cruz. A blister on Ohtani's right middle finger is keeping the two-way star off the mound in games, but Bollinger reports the Angels are hopeful Ohtani will be able to pitch by early next week.

Ohtani threw a light, 10-pitch bullpen session Monday without a bandage on his blistered finger, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The blister scratched Ohtani from his scheduled Sunday start against the Blue Jays. He hasn't been ruled out from starting sometime later this week, and the bullpen session does represent some amount of progress, but he's likely to need a longer session before returning to game action. He's been able to hit despite the blister and remains the starting designated hitter Monday against the Royals.

The Angels plan to have Ohtani completed a bullpen session Monday, though he may have to pitch with a bandage over his blistered finger, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani will continue to play regularly as a designated hitter while he contends with the blister, but the Angels want to see how he checks out during a throwing session before determining when he'll make his next start on the mound. The Angels have already excluded Ohtani from their pitching schedule for their three-game series in Kansas City that begins Monday, but if the lefty checks out fine during the bullpen session, he could return to the hill at some point during the Halos' series with the Twins next weekend.

Ohtani (finger) could throw a bullpen session Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled pitching start for Sunday's game due to a blister, but he could throw once again Monday. It's not yet clear whether the right-hander will throw with a bandage on his finger. Since Ohtani's throwing session would occur Monday, he could miss a full turn through the rotation due to his injury. However, Ohtani has still been able to hit recently and is starting Saturday's game against Toronto as the designated hitter, batting second.

Ohtani (finger) will bat second as the designated hitter Saturday against Toronto.

Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled pitching start for Sunday's game due to a blister, but he's still been able to serve as the designated hitter for the Angels. The 26-year-old has gone 9-for-30 with three home runs, eight RBI, seven runs and two stolen bases at the plate this season.

Ohtani (finger) played long toss in the outfield Friday and doesn't expect his absence from the mound to be lengthy, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani has already been scratched from his scheduled start Sunday due to a blister on his pitching hand, but it appears the issue won't set him back from taking the mound for long. The right-handed hurler indicated that he expects to throw relatively soon, and he hasn't had any problems swinging the bat, going 3-for-10 with five RBI over his past two games.

Ohtani (finger) went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Friday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Ohtani was scratched from his scheduled pitching start for Sunday's game, but he was cleared to hit. He made a big impact from the No. 2 spot in the order Friday. In the second inning, he hit a bases-loaded double to plate three runs. The 26-year-old added a solo shot in the fifth inning to extend the Angels' lead to 5-0. He's batting .300/.344/.700 with three homers, eight RBI, seven runs scored and two stolen bases in eight games. Ohtani is expected to be able to continue hitting while battling a finger blister, but it's unclear when he'll be able to return to the mound.

Ohtani (finger) will bat second as the designated hitter Friday versus the Blue Jays, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 26-year-old was ruled out for his next start Sunday against Toronto due to a blister, though the issue won't prevent him from serving as the designated hitter to open the weekend. It's unclear if Ohtani will be able to pitch in the following series against the Royals, which begins Monday, but he's cleared to continue hitting in the meantime.

Ohtani will not make his next start Sunday against Toronto due to a blister, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani survived an injury scare in his last start but will now be skipped in the rotation. The team is still assessing whether he will be able to pitch in the team's series with the Royals beginning Monday, or if his absence from the mound will be more extended. The news shifts the Angels' rotation, with Jose Quintana taking the mound Saturday and Alex Cobb on Sunday.

Ohtani (ankle) will bat second as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Astros.

Ohtani left his start Sunday against the White Sox after a somewhat scary collision at the plate, but the Angels clarified after the game that he was going to exit the game anyway and wasn't dealing with any serious injury. He got a bit of rest Monday, though he did appear as a pinch hitter. He'll be involved from the start in Tuesday's contest and shouldn't face any restrictions going forward.

Ohtani (ankle) will be available to hit off the bench Monday night against the Astros, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani reportedly wanted to be right back in the starting lineup for Monday's contest after suffering an ankle injury Sunday evening, but the Angels will keep him on the bench as a precaution. He could pinch hit for his club if needed, however.

Manager Joe Maddon said after Sunday's 7-4 win over the White Sox that Ohtani (ankle) won't start at designated hitter in Monday's series opener versus the Astros, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Though Maddon downplayed the severity of the ankle injury Ohtani suffered in his home-plate collision with Jose Abreu on Sunday, the Angels will understandably take some extra precaution with the two-way standout heading into their second series of the season. According to Bollinger, Maddon said that Ohtani will be getting a day off for maintenance purposes more than anything, as the 26-year-old had hit in all four games of the series with Chicago in addition to pitching 4.2 innings (92 pitches) Sunday. Ohtani could still be available as a pinch-hitter Monday, which would seem to suggest that he'll be on track to serve as a DH at some point during the series with Houston. And assuming he makes it through a bullpen session in the next couple of days without incident, Ohtani is lined up to make his second start as a pitcher next Sunday versus the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.

Ohtani isn't dealing with anything worse than general soreness and was not removed from Sunday's game due to injury, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani's final play of the game involved Jose Abreu crashing into him at home plate, but he was able to walk off under his own power. He'd thrown 92 pitches and was beginning to lose his control in his final frame, so it's no surprise that he was going to be done for the day even without the collision. He could get the day off Monday to rest even if his reevaluation confirms that he's escaped serious injury, but it doesn't appear as though the Angels are concerned about him missing his next start.

Ohtani left Saturday's game against the White Sox following a collision at home plate, though he was able to walk off under his own power, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani struck out Yoan Moncada for what would have been the final out of the fifth inning, but the ball got away from catcher Max Stassi, who then overthrew Jared Walsh at first base. Two runners came around to score, with Jose Abreu sliding into Ohtani's ankle at the conclusion of the play. Ohtani was likely to leave the game anyway, however, as he'd thrown 92 pitches and was getting into trouble. Prior to wild final play, Ohtani was having exactly the sort of game that made him so hyped when he first crossed the Pacific, hitting the hardest-hit ball of the season while throwing the fastest pitches of any starter thus far this year. He left the game after going 1-for-3 with a solo homer on the offensive side and allowing three runs (one earned) on two hits and five walks while striking out seven in 4.2 innings on the mound.

Manager Joe Maddon said Ohtani is expected to hit for himself as the starting pitcher Sunday against the White Sox, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Maddon made the announcement prior to Saturday's game and reiterated that plan following the contest. Ohtani was prevented from serving as the designated hitter the day before his starts in previous seasons, but the Angels apparently want to keep his bat in the lineup this year, even when he's on the mound. The move would result in Los Angeles operating without a designated hitter for Sunday's contest. The 26-year-old went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Saturday's victory.

Ohtani got through a recent bullpen session without any issues from the blister that cut his final spring outing short, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani is scheduled to start Sunday against the White Sox, and it doesn't look as though the blister will interrupt those plans. He's in the lineup as a designated hitter Saturday despite the fact that he'll be pitching the next day, something the Angels had avoided doing in previous seasons.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and three strikeouts in Friday's loss to the White Sox.

He may be out of the lineup Saturday, as he is scheduled to start Sunday against the White Sox. Ohtani is now 1-for-9 with four strikeouts through two games as a hitter.

Ohtani will serve as the team's designated hitter Friday and could Saturday as well, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's status was uncertain after he dealt with a blister earlier in the week, however he is in the Opening Day lineup and appears headed for a full workload. In addition to his time in the lineup, Ohtani is also slated to make his debut on the mound Sunday and will not have a pitch limit despite not being fully stretched out.

Ohtani (finger) will bat second as the designated hitter in Thursday's game against the White Sox, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani exited Monday's spring start as a pitcher due to a blister, but he'll be in the starting lineup for the team's Opening Day matchup. It's not yet clear whether Ohtani will be able to make his scheduled 2021 debut as a pitcher against the White Sox on Sunday, but it's encouraging to see him hitting Thursday.

Ohtani (finger) will bat second as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Dodgers, source reports.

Ohtani left his Monday start on the mound with a blister, but the fact that he's able to hit just one day later is seemingly a good sign. Pitching presumably places more stress on the blistered finger than hitting does, however, so he'll still have to get through a bullpen session this week if he's to make his scheduled pitching debut against the White Sox on Sunday.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said that he expects Ohtani (finger) will be ready to pitch in his first scheduled start of the season Sunday against the White Sox, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Pitching for the fourth and final time of the spring Monday against the Dodgers, Ohtani worked only 2.1 innings before bowing out of the contest after developing a blister on his right middle finger. He was lit up for seven runs before departing, inflating his spring ERA to 12.19 over 10.1 innings. Fortunately, the blister doesn't seem to be viewed as a major concern, as Maddon noted that the two-way standout would be able to serve as a designated hitter in Tuesday's spring finale against the Dodgers. Assuming Ohtani makes it through a bullpen session later this week without issue, he should be ready to pitch Sunday, though he likely won't be asked to work deep into the contest.

The Angels confirmed that Ohtani left Monday's start with a blister on his right hand, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

According to Ardaya, Ohtani's blister was caught early, which is promising news for the ballclub. General manager Perry Minasian stated that there's nothing else to report on Ohtani's status at this time, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani was removed from Monday night's spring start due to an apparent right middle finger injury, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ardaya notes that Ohtani was looking at his right hand throughout the inning, so there's certainly a possibility that this is nothing more than a blister issue. Expect more news on the extent of the injury to emerge after further evaluation.

Ohtani will hit in the leadoff or second spot in the order on days when he is in the lineup as a batter, Taylor Blake Ward of Locked on Angels reports.

Ohtani has been scorching at the plate this spring, slashing .571/.594/1.107 with five home runs and eight RBI. David Fletcher typically bats leadoff for the Angels, so Ohtani could be used most frequently in the second spot as a tablesetter for Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon.

Ohtani tossed four innings in Sunday's Cactus League contest against San Diego, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out five. He also hit leadoff and went 2-for-2 with a walk.

Ohtani doesn't typically pitch and hit in the same game, though manager Joe Maddon left the possibility of him doing so in the regular season open, calling Sunday's scenario an "experiment" to see how Ohtani feels and pointing out that NL pitchers do it all the time, per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register. The two-way phenom is slashing an absurd .636/.654/1.182 with four homers this spring and hit 102 MPH on his fastball Sunday, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, so it's certainly tempting for the Angels to try to get as much out of both his bat and his arm as possible.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs in Monday's Cactus League loss to Cincinnati.

Two days after a rough outing on the mound, Ohtani was in the lineup at DH and reminded everyone of what we can do with the bat, drilling two opposite-field homers against Michael Lorenzen. While he has been up and down as a pitcher this spring, Ohtani has wowed at the plate, slashing .563/.556/1.125 with three homers and five RBI.

Ohtani pitched 2.1 innings against the White Sox in a Cactus League contest Saturday, allowing five runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four.

Ohtani looked good in the first frame, allowing one hit but striking out two batters. Things fell apart in the second, however, as Ohtani allowed five straight hitters to reach base before being pulled for a reliever. He ended up being charged with five runs in the frame, then came back out for the third inning (modified spring training rules allow such a move to take place) and got two outs before calling it a day. While the right-hander's outing certainly wasn't pretty, the good news is that he emerged from the appearance feeling fine, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, and touched 99 mph with his fastball. Ohtani's ability to throw heat this spring is encouraging given his recent arm issues, and he has now struck out nine batters over four total innings. Fantasy managers looking to invest in Ohtani may be wise to focus more on his velocity and arm strength than the final box score in a meaningless spring training game, though a strong performance his next time out -- currently slated for next Sunday against S

Ohtani completed 1.2 innings in Friday's Cactus League contest against Oakland, allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out five.

Ohtani's control -- especially on his slider -- wasn't in peak form, but the two-way star recorded all five of his outs via strikeout and touched 100 mph on his fastball, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. More importantly, manager Joe Maddon liked what he saw in terms of Ohtani's mechanics, which never appeared to be in sync last season. "It really starts with his delivery, I think it's more clean and consistent," Maddon said. "I like his arm stroke better. It starts there and then he's able to recapture the velocity he's had in the past, and the really good break of his splitter. The big thing for his success is going to be repetition of delivery and knowing where his fastball is going consistently." Ohtani won't have any restrictions as part of the Angels' six-man rotation this season, though health is always a concern considering that injuries have limited him to 53.1 total innings on the mound over three big-league seasons.

Ohtani will pitch as a normal member of the Angels' six-man rotation this season and won't be locked into a specific day of the week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Teams in Ohtani's native Japan typically use six-man rotations and have one off day per week, allowing each starter to pitch on a dedicated day throughout the season. The Angels had kept Ohtani on a similar schedule when he first came to MLB, but they intend to use him in the same way as the rest of their rotation this season. They'll still use a non-standard six-man rotation, which limits his potential two-start weeks, but he'll at least now have the chance to receive a few throughout the season if he happens to line up right during a week in which the Angels play seven games.

Ohtani's fastball reached 100 mph in his bullpen session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani topped out at 90 mph during his first bullpen session, which was either the sign of yet more arm troubles for the two-way sensation or simply the sign of a pitcher gradually getting up to speed to start camp. Thankfully, recent bullpen sessions have shown that it was clearly the latter, as he's now throwing significantly harder. Ohtani's fastball averaged 96.7 mph during his rookie season back in 2018 before he was shut down from pitching due to elbow troubles, and it looks as though he could sit in that range again this year.

Ohtani said his fastball reached 97 mph during Wednesday's live batting practice session, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

There was some pessimism about Ohtani's pitching outlook after he topped out at just 90 mph during a bullpen session last Thursday, but the right-hander proved that those concerns were overblown during his time on the mound Wednesday. Notably, Ohtani hit 97 mph only once during his brief stint as a pitcher last season. The 26-year-old indicated that his elbow feels "much better" compared to 2020, and he could be poised for a bounceback as a hurler if he's able to keep healthy throughout the campaign.

Ohtani worked with Driveline Baseball over the offseason as part of a plan to get back to his desired level on the mound, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The two-way phenom has yet to fully deliver on his considerable promise, with Tommy John surgery limiting him to just 12 starts over his first three MLB seasons, including two disastrous outings after he got back on the mound last year. It's not clear exactly what he worked on at Driveline, though he was seen using the company's trademark weighted ball workouts in camp. There's no guarantee that working with Driveline will instantly vault Ohtani into a new tier as a pitcher, but the trip provides one explanation should he showcase a new skill set early in the season. Early reports from camp have been mostly negative, as he topped out at just 90 mph in his first bullpen session, but he didn't seem concerned with his velocity. Fantasy drafters may not share his optimism given his history, but there's every chance his velocity rebounds as his spring buildup continues.

Ohtani threw a 27-pitch bullpen session Thursday, topping out at 90 mph, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The velocity is well below his career average of 93.2 mph, but it's probably far too early to be worried. Pitchers don't always throw at full intensity right at the start of camp, and Ohtani had reportedly touched 95 mph in recent sessions. Still, given the rocky nature of Ohtani's MLB pitching career thus far, it doesn't take much for the red flags to start to fly. After not pitching at all in 2019 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, he was shut down following a pair of awful outings last year. Those looking to invest in him in fantasy drafts would certainly love to see his velocity return to normal before doing so.

Ohtani will enter camp as a full two-way player, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

There was little reason to believe Ohtani wouldn't be a two-way player this season, but it's still good to see it confirmed after he was shut down from pitching following two disastrous starts last year. Despite his considerable hype, Ohtani has now spent three full seasons in the majors and has yet to be a two-way player for any one full campaign. Elbow issues ended his time on the mound just 10 starts into his debut season and eventually led to Tommy John surgery, which kept him as purely a designated hitter in 2019. His awful outings on the mound in 2020 can be explained away by his recovery from that procedure, but it's still hard to have complete confidence that things will finally go well for him in his fourth MLB season.

Ohtani and the Angels avoided arbitration for this year and the next by agreeing to a two-year, $8.5 million contract Monday.

The agreement gives both sides stability for the near future, which could prove quite important given that Ohtani's outlook is rather uncertain. He's yet to truly establish himself as the two-way phenom he was billed as when he came over from Japan in 2018, as he was shut down from pitching just 10 starts into his rookie season and didn't throw at all the next year due to Tommy John surgery. A pair of awful outings on the mound to open 2020 made him just a hitter for the rest of the season, but that didn't go at all well as he struggled to a .190/.291/.366 line. If his struggles continue this year, he could look overpaid even at his modest salary, but if his breakout finally arrives he could wind up leaving quite a bit of money on the table.

Ohtani is making progress in his throwing progression and is expected to be part of the Angels' six-man rotation next season, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani has only thrown 53.1 innings over his three-year MLB career. Elbow issues limited him to just 10 starts in his 2018 debut, and he didn't pitch at all in 2019 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was set to be a two-way player again last season but was deemed not yet ready to pitch after making a pair of disastrous starts. In theory, this should finally by our first full season of Ohtani as a true dual threat, though whether or not it finally goes smoothly this year remains to be seen. The Angels remain committed to the project to the point of deploying a non-standard rotation just to help him manage his workload.

Ohtani has been throwing for approximately a month and has reached 120 feet, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani remains somewhat limited but has been able to throw at 75 to 80 percent effort. The Angels expect him to enter spring training as a two-way player. Of course, he was expected to be a two-way player this year as well, but he wound up allowing seven runs while recording just five outs over a pair of starts before the Angels shut him down from throwing. The team will hope that putting his Tommy John surgery another year in the rearview mirror and going through a normal offseason and spring buildup process will bring different results this time around.

Ohtani is not starting Friday against the Dodgers.

Albert Pujols gets the nod as the designated hitter with lefty Clayton Kershaw on the mound for the Dodgers. Ohtani has had a very tough time at the plate this season, hitting just .194/.297/.382.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's 5-2 win over San Diego.

The Halos went deep three times during the second inning, and Ohtani started things off with the 415-foot, two-run shot to right center. The 26-year-old was held out of the lineup last week against a string of left-handers, but he's 3-for-12 with two homers, five runs, four RBI and three walks over his past four games.

Ohtani isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Padres.

Ohtani drew starts in each of the past three contests, but he'll retreat to the bench for the series opener against the Padres. Albert Pujols is serving as the designated hitter Tuesday.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rangers.

Ohtani got the Angels on the board with his solo shot in the second inning. He added a leadoff single in the fifth before scoring on Taylor Ward's double. The homer was Ohtani's sixth of the year, to go with 21 RBI, 20 runs scored, seven stolen bases and a .200/.294/.378 slash line in 38 games.

Ohtani (forearm) could start a throwing program before the end of the regular season, the Associated Press reports.

When Ohtani was diagnosed with a strain of the flexor pronator mass in his right forearm in early August, he was given a 4-6 week recovery timeline. The upper end of that estimate has since passed, suggesting that the 26-year-old could be ready to start building up his arm again. The Angels long ago committed to keep Ohtani off the mound for the remainder of this season, so any throwing program he begins is likely to be approached with caution and with an eye toward 2021. Ohtani has stated a desire to return to the mound next season, though the organization has yet to reveal their plans for the two-way star.

Ohtani isn't in Friday's lineup against the Rangers.

Ohtani will sit for a sixth consecutive game with left-hander Wes Benjamin serving as the primary pitcher Friday. Albert Pujols will take over as the designated hitter once again.

Ohtani is out of the lineup Thursday against the Diamondback, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani finds himself on the bench for the fifth straight game as the Angels face another left-hander in Alex Young. Albert Pujols is batting fifth as the designated hitter again Thursday.

Ohtani isn't in Wednesday's lineup against the Diamondbacks.

With left-hander Caleb Smith taking the mound for Arizona on Wednesday, Ohtani will take a seat for the fourth consecutive game. Albert Pujols will take over as the designated hitter once again.

Ohtani isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Diamondbacks.

Ohtani will take a seat for the third consecutive game, but his absence Tuesday was to be expected with southpaw Madison Bumgarner starting for Arizona. Albert Pujols will serve as the designated hitter in his place.

Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The lefty-hitting Ohtani's move to the bench Saturday's game wasn't much of a surprise with a southpaw (Kyle Freeland) on the hill for Colorado, but his absence from Sunday's lineup is more conspicuous with a right-hander (Ryan Castellani) starting. With an off day coming Monday, Angels manager Joe Maddon may just have wanted to give Ohtani a more extended breather due to his rough start to September. Ohtani is slashing .192/.300/.192 with eight strikeouts in 26 at-bats on the month.

Ohtani is not starting Saturday against lefty Kyle Freeland and the Rockies, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Ohtani hits the bench for the second time in the last three games, though he's sat quite frequently against lefties this season, so it's not particularly surprising to see him on the bench here. It's been a very disappointing year at the plate for the 26-year-old, who's hitting just .189/.287/.348 in 150 plate appearances. Albert Pujols will serve as the designated hitter Saturday.

Ohtani is not in Thursday's lineup against the Rangers.

He is usually in the lineup against righties, so it's a little odd that he will sit this one out with Kyle Gibson on the hill for Texas. Matt Thaiss gets the start at designated hitter and will bat second.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in a loss to Texas on Tuesday.

Lots of things have gone wrong for Ohtani this season -- in addition to getting hurt again on the mound, he has posted a subpar .194 batting average -- but the slugger has at least been able to flash his ability on the basepaths, going a perfect 7-for-7 in stolen base attempts to tie for 10th-most in the league. He has been especially proficient in the that category of late, swiping five bags over his last 11 games.

Ohtani is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros.

The Angels are facing a lefty (Framber Valdez) and just played a doubleheader Saturday, so it seems like a decent time to get Ohtani a rest. Ohtani has mostly struggled at the dish this season with a .192/.297/.367 batting line and it's fair to wonder if the strained flexor pronator mass is playing a part.

Ohtani is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader with the Astros.

Ohtani was productive in Saturday's opening game, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run, a walk and a stolen base, but manager Joe Maddon will not overextend his regular designated hitter, and will use Mike Trout in that spot for the second end of the twin bill.

Ohtani will sit Monday against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani continues to fill a full-time role as the Angels' near-everyday designated hitter despite numbers that suggest he's not worthy of the job, as he's hitting just .188/.277/.381. The team knows he's capable of far better, however, as he hit .286/.351/.532 in his first two seasons in the league, and there's little reason for them not to let him hit his way out of his slump, as they sit last in the American League with a record of 12-23. Justin Upton starts in his place Monday.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Mariners.

Ohtani walked in the first inning and notched his fifth stolen base of the season in quick succession. He later added a single in the third. Through 27 games, the 26-year-old is slashing .181/.277/.381 with five homers, 18 RBI and 15 runs scored to go with his five steals.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a double, walk, stolen base and run scored in Friday's victory versus the Mariners.

Ohtani helped manufacture the Angels' first run in the sixth inning, working a leadoff walk and stealing second base before coming home on a two-out ground-rule double. The 26-year-old is hitting only .188 this season, but he has contributed five homers, 16 RBI and four steals.

Manager Joe Maddon envisions Ohtani being able to play the field in future seasons, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani has been taking flyballs in the outfield and grounders at first base, but he will be confined to designated hitter duties this season due to his elbow injury that is also preventing him from pitching. From a fantasy perspective, it would be great if Ohtani could be a full-time position player, but he may be deployed once again as a two-way player when he is fully healthy.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run Sunday against the Athletics.

Ohtani provided the Angels with the majority of their offense Sunday, mashing his home run in the third inning off Frankie Montas. He now has five home runs on the season, and he broke a four-game hitless streak with Sunday's effort. Ohtani has yet to find his groove at the plate overall, as he's hitting just .181/.261/.410, though he does have 14 RBI and 11 runs scored across 92 plate appearances.

Ohtani isn't starting Friday against the Athletics.

Ohtani started the past three games as the Angels' designated hitter but was hitless with one walk and three strikeouts over 12 at-bats. He'll get a day to rest Friday with Tommy La Stella taking over as the designated hitter.

Ohtani is not starting Monday against the Giants.

Ohtani is able to serve as the designated hitter on a more regular basis now that he's not pitching any more this season, but he won't be immune from the occasional off day. He hasn't really gotten going at the plate this season, hitting a modest .203/.271/.453. Justin Upton will be the designated hitter Monday.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's win over Oakland.

Ohtani has been heating up of late, going 6-for-11 with three walks over his last three games. That stretch has brought his average from .132 to .224 on the campaign. He has also driven in 10 runs and scored eight times.

Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double and a walk in a win over Oakland on Monday.

With the Angels trailing by two runs in the sixth inning, Ohtani blasted a homer to center field with a man aboard to tie the score. The long ball was the fourth of the season for the slugger, and seven of his nine hits have gone for extra bases. Ohtani is hitting .200 on the season, but he has a .533 slugging percentage.

Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's 7-3 loss to Texas.

Ohtani led off the sixth inning with a double and later came around to score. For the season, five of his seven hits have gone for extra bases. The 26-year-old owns a .171/.227/.439 slash line in 44 plate appearances.

Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in a win over Seattle on Thursday.

Ohtani had not played since suffering a strained forearm as a pitcher Sunday, but he wasted little time proving that the injury would not limit him as a hitter, blasting a home run to left field in the second inning. The long ball was Ohtani's fifth hit of the season -- three of which have left the yard. Despite hitting only .167 on the campaign, the 26-year-old has driven in eight runs in nine contests.

Ohtani (forearm) is hitting fourth as the Angels' designated hitter Thursday against the Mariners.

As expected, Ohtani has been cleared to rejoin the lineup as DH after missing a handful of games with a strained forearm. While the issue will keep him from pitching in 2020, Ohtani -- who is 4-for-27 with a pair of home runs and seven RBI this season -- is still expected to serve as the team's primary designated hitter.

Ohtani (forearm) indicated that he would like to remain a two-way player in 2021, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani won't pitch again this season after being diagnosed with a forearm strain and given a 4-6 week recovery timeline, but he isn't ready to abandon his role as a pitcher in spite of his injury woes since joining the Angels. "It's not as severe as my Tommy John -- it's just a little inflammation in my elbow," Ohtani said through an interpreter. "If it comes down to them telling me to just focus on hitting or focus on pitching, I will listen. But, ideally, I would like to leave the window open for me to do both." The injury isn't likely to prevent Ohtani from hitting, and he is expected to be in the lineup as the team's designated hitter Thursday.

Ohtani (forearm) is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners, but he's expected to start in Thursday's series finale, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 26-year-old isn't expected to pitch again this season after suffering a forearm strain Sunday, but the team still believes he'll serve as the primary designated hitter the rest of the season. Ohtani has taken the past few days off as the injury is evaluated, but he should be back in the lineup Thursday. Justin Upton will bat cleanup as the DH for Wednesday's contest.

Ohtani (forearm) isn't expected to pitch again the season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

The 25-year-old suffered a Grade 1-2 strain of the flexor pronator mass in his right forearm over the weekend, and manager Joe Maddon said, "I don't anticipate him pitching at all this year." Ohtani won't begin a throwing progression for at least 4-to-6 weeks, but he's still expected to serve as the team's primary designated hitter. However, he remains out of the lineup Tuesday as he continues to be evaluated, per Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times.

Contrary to a previous report, Ohtani is day-to-day as a hitter with a Grade 1-2 strain of the flexor pronator mass. He won't begin a throwing progression for at least 4-to-6 weeks.

It's safe to say he won't pitch in regular season games again this season, but there had been a report from the Los Angeles Times earlier in the day that Ohtani would go forward as the primary designated hitter. He will be with the team for its road trip which starts Tuesday in Seattle, but it sounds like he is questionable for that game.

Ohtani (arm) will continue as the Angels' primary designated hitter going forward, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

He is expected to be with the team when it opens a six-game trip in Seattle on Tuesday. Ohtani had an MRI on his right arm after Sunday's brief start in which his fastball dipped from its customary 95-96 mph range to 89 mph in his final pitches. It sounds like the Angels won't be deploying Ohtani as a pitcher anytime soon, but that isn't necessarily the worst development for his 2020 fantasy value, given his ineffectiveness on the mound this year and his upside as a hitter. He has a .281/.345/.528 slash line with 42 home runs and 23 steals in 228 MLB games, but his 32.1 percent strikeout rate and 3.6 percent walk rate in 28 plate appearances this season are career-worst marks.

Ohtani experienced arm discomfort after Sunday's start and underwent an MRI, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Ohtani had another rough start Sunday against the Astros, allowing two runs on no hits and five walks while striking out three over 1.2 innings. He didn't factor into the decision in the team's loss in extra innings. The results of his MRI aren't yet known, and it's unclear whether he'll be forced to miss any time as a result.

Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Thursday's 8-5 loss to the Mariners.

Ohtani reached on a fielder's choice in the seventh inning, then promptly stole second, his first stolen base of the season. In the ninth, Ohtani cut the Mariners' lead to three runs with his homer off Dan Altavilla, but that was where the Angels' offense stopped. The 26-year-old two-way star has collected two homers and seven RBI in five games as a batter this season.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners.

Ohtani has struggled both on the mound and at the plate to begin the campaign, but he provided reason for optimism with a 402-foot, three-run blast in the fourth inning. He has three hits and six strikeouts through his first 19 at-bats.

Ohtani's next start will come Sunday despite the fact that he threw only 30 pitches in his season debut, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani struggled mightily in his first start of the season Sunday, failing to record an out while allowing five earned runs. The short outing won't result in an adjustment to his pitching schedule, however, as the Angels will stick to the every-Sunday routine they set up prior to the start of the season. That puts Ohtani in line for a tough matchup against Houston on Aug. 2.

Ohtani is "totally healthy" according to pitching coach Mickey Callaway, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Callaway blamed Ohtani's command for his awful season debut Sunday, in which he allowed five runs on three hits and three walks without recording a single out, saying that he simply didn't get the chance to face enough hitters during his preseason buildup. While that could certainly be the case, the fact that his fastball averaged just 92.9 mph after sitting at 96.7 mph back in 2018, his lone big-league season prior to Tommy John surgery, certainly gives cause for concern. For now, it appears that he's set to continue in his typical two-way role, as he'll bat third as the designated hitter Monday against the Athletics.

Ohtani (0-1) allowed five runs on three hits and three walks while failing to record an out as he took the loss against the Athletics on Sunday.

The Athletics played some small ball to get their first six batters on base before Angels manager Joe Maddon replaced Ohtani with Matt Andriese. It was as far from triumphant as possible for Ohtani, who made his first pitching appearance since 2018. The 26-year-old's next scheduled outing is next Sunday versus the high-scoring Astros.

Ohtani will not be on a pitch count in his first start of the season Sunday against Oakland, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Pitchers entered this season at varying levels of readiness depending on how well they were able to stay in some approximation of game shape during the shutdown period. In Ohtani's case, he continued to throw the whole time as he was still completing his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Expect him to pitch as deep into the contest as his performance allows.

Ohtani isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Athletics.

Ohtani went 1-for-5 with one strikeout in Friday's season opener, but he'll sit Saturday before he's scheduled to take the mound Sunday. Justin Upton will take over as the designated hitter, batting third.

Ohtani won't be on an innings restriction this season even in the case of a potential playoff run, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani did not pitch at all last season following 2018 Tommy John surgery, so he would likely be handled carefully in a typical season. The 60-game 2020 campaign is far from typical, however, so the Angels have no plans to limit his season workload even if the team goes deep into the playoffs. As it stands, Ohtani is slated to pitch on a once-per-week schedule throughout the campaign, so he's unlikely to make more than 10 regular-season starts.

Ohtani threw 72 pitches over five innings in an intrasquad game Sunday, allowing one run on five hits and four walks while striking out six, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

Ohtani's summer struggles with his command continued Sunday, but he was otherwise effective in his final tuneup before the regular season. According to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, Ohtani confirmed Sunday that he'll start the Angels' third game of the season, which will take place Sunday at Oakland.

Ohtani will likely be the Angels' starting pitcher on Sundays throughout the 2020 season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani will be on a unique pitching schedule in which he starts exactly once per week on the same day of the week. General manager Billy Eppler indicated that the team is targeting Sunday as Ohtani's designated starting day, and the Angels have already lined up that plan by scheduling his final intrasquad appearance for this coming Sunday. The Angels don't have any Sunday off-days during the shortened 2020 campaign, so Ohtani could get in 10 starts if the plan unfolds without a hitch.

Ohtani struggles with command during his 60-pitch outing in Monday's intrasquad game, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani allowed one earned run on two hits and four walks across 3.1 innings. He recorded just one strikeout and also hit a batter. The southpaw threw just 26 strikes out of 60 total pitches. Ohtani seems to have made a full recovery from the mild back stiffness that began last week. The 26-year-old will serve as a two-way asset for the Angels come Opening Day.

Ohtani hit a two-run home run in an intrasquad game Sunday, Trent Rush of Angels Radio Network reports.

Judging by Ohtani's offensive output this weekend -- he also hit a double Saturday -- the two-way star's back stiffness is mostly a thing of the past. Any lingering concern about the issue could be erased altogether if Ohtani gets through his scheduled pitching appearance Monday without incident.

Ohtani will pitch in Monday's intrasquad game, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

It sounds like the stiff back that bothered him earlier this week is a thing of the past. It's unclear if Ohtani will start or work in relief in Monday's outing, but he is on track to be ready for his first start of the season.

Ohtani's stiff back has been improving, allowing him to throw a bullpen session and take some at-bats in an intrasquad game Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

News of a back issue was a potential worry for Ohtani, especially as his pitching appearance in an intrasquad contest Tuesday went quite poorly. It doesn't appear as though the Angels are particularly concerned, however, so Ohtani should be set to fill his two-way role once the season begins.

Ohtani is experiencing back stiffness that isn't believed to be serious, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani experienced back stiffness after pitching Tuesday, and the team has limited his workload over the past several days. However, manager Joe Maddon doesn't believe that the issue is serious and expects Ohtani to make his next outing in camp. Barring any setbacks, it wouldn't be surprising to see the right-hander ready for Opening Day.

Ohtani unofficially walked eight batters and uncorked six wild pitches in three innings in an intrasquad game Tuesday, Trent Rush of Angels Radio Network reports.

There are no official stats for intrasquad games, but Ohtani clearly struggled mightily with his command Tuesday, unofficially throwing strikes on only 15 of 50 pitches. The rust is understandable since Tuesday marked Ohtani's first outing against any sort of competition in nearly two years, and the fact that he was able to throw 50 pitches without a setback is reason enough to be encouraged about the two-way star's ability to contribute on the mound this season.

Ohtani will start opposite Andrew Heaney in Tuesday's intrasquad game and is expected to throw 3-to-4 innings, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

This will be a controlled environment where manager Joe Maddon can end an inning early or change the batting order on the fly, but it is nonetheless encouraging that Ohtani is already capable of going four innings. He is set to be a true two-way player again in 2020, pitching once per week while starting at designated hitter roughly four days per week. This means there probably won't be any two-start weeks for Ohtani, which hurts his value in weekly leagues.

Ohtani indicated that he will probably not include a leg kick in his swing this year, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani had been experimenting with the leg kick prior to the suspension of spring training, and even in veering away from the adjustment he acknowledged the quickness with which he's able to react once his front foot touches the ground. The slugger has done well enough without the leg kick through his first two big league seasons, slashing .286/.351/.532 with 40 home runs in 792 plate appearances.

Ohtani completed a bullpen session at Angel Stadium on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani returned to the mound in April and has been ramping up his pitching activity since. While the two-way star was originally expected to miss several weeks to begin the season, the delayed start to the campaign has given him ample time to build up his arm, and he is now likely to be part of the starting rotation when the revised Opening Day kicks off. Manager Joe Maddon all but ensured this when he stated that Ohtani is "ready to rock and roll" in a comment to reporters Thursday, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Tuesday that Ohtani (elbow) has been cleared for mound work at the outset of Summer Camp and will be available as a two-way player for the start of the 2020 season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani had already reached the finish line in his recovery from October 2018 Tommy John surgery when he resumed facing hitters in live batting practice in May, so Eppler's comments are merely confirmation that the 25-year-old will head to camp with no notable restrictions. Manager Joe Maddon has already said that he intends to keep Ohtani on a once-a-week pitching schedule as part of the Angels' expected six-man rotation, leaving Ohtani to serve as a designated hitter on the days when he's not on the mound. Ohtani has demonstrated elite ability both as a pitcher and hitter during his two years in the majors, posting a 127 ERA+ over 51.2 career innings and a 136 wRC+ over 792 career plate appearances.

Angels manager Joe Maddon said Wednesday that he's "very" hopeful Ohtani will be ready to pitch by Opening Day, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Maddon named Ohtani, Griffin Canning (elbow) and Felix Pena (knee) as players who were unlikely to be a go for the original Opening Day but may be fine after the extended layoff. Among that group, Ohtani seems like the surest bet to be with the team when play kicks off as he has -- by all indications -- completed his Tommy John recovery. Ohtani reached 55 pitches in a live batting practice session at the end of last month.

Ohtani posted a video of himself deadlifting 495 pounds on his personal Instagram page Wednesday.

Given the strain of lifting nearly 500 pounds, it's safe to say that Ohtani is feeling good after undergoing elbow and knee surgeries over the previous two years. Ohtani has put on added muscle as the result of a heavyweight, low-rep routine over the offseason, giving the Angels hope that he can increase his durability upon his return to the mound during a potential 2020 campaign.

Ohtani recently resumed throwing live batting practice and has advanced to the 55-pitch mark in those sessions, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Angels have indicated that Ohtani, who has thrown live BP three times, will stick around 55 pitches in his subsequent throwing sessions before likely building up his count once teams are allowed to begin their second phase of preseason training. The league-wide shutdown has provided Ohtani with some extra time to complete the final stages of his rehab from October 2018 Tommy John surgery, leaving the possibility open for him to contribute both as a member of the rotation and as a designated hitter when Opening Day arrives.

Ohtani (elbow) has been "ramping up intensity and volume," Jeff Fletcher of The Orange Country Register reports.

The update comes by way of Angels general manager Billy Eppler, who also noted that Ohtani has continued throwing off a mound. The two-way star was originally expected to be limited to hitting duties to begin the campaign, but with a potential Opening Day pushed back to no sooner than early July, Ohtani is now on track to be part of the starting rotation from the get-go.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Sunday during an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that Ohtani is throwing "roughly" two bullpen sessions per week and about "80 to 85 percent" intensity.

Since Ohtani is still completing the rehab process for his elbow following his October 2018 Tommy John surgery, he's been permitted to receive treatment and conduct his throwing program at the Angels' facility during the league-wide suspension. Eppler estimated that Ohtani is typically throwing around 35 pitches during the sessions and should increase the frequency of them before he's deemed ready to face hitters in May. Organizing live batting practice sessions in which Ohtani can test himself against hitters could prove to be more of a challenge if the MLB season remains suspended deep into May.

Ohtani (elbow) has started throwing bullpen sessions, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

In a Q&A session, Angels general manager Billy Eppler indicated that Ohtani tossed a bullpen Monday and another Friday morning. The Friday session consisted of "15 pitches...fastballs only," according to Eppler. The news is in line with reports earlier in April suggesting that Ohtani's return to the mound was imminent. It also bodes will for the possibility that the Angels' ace could be ready to pitch in games by the time the 2020 season gets underway.

Ohtani (elbow) has been participating in long toss from 180 feet and ramping up throwing intensity from 60 feet. He's expected to throw off a mound soon, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani has continued his throwing program despite the suspension of play necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. His progression to high-intensity work from 60 feet suggests that a return to the mound is just around the corner. If all goes well, Ohtani could be a part of the Angels' starting rotation when the regular season finally gets underway.

Ohtani (elbow) has continued to play catch on flat ground and may throw off a mound in a couple weeks, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani had thrown off a mound nearly a month ago, though that session was described as low-effort work. Presumably, he's now ramping up the intensity of his throwing program as the team's goal remains for him to retake the mound in mid-May for game action.

Ohtani may be available to pitch from the start of the season, given that Opening Day has been delayed indefinitely, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani's value has always been heavily dependent on how various leagues allow him to be used. Previously, fantasy owners could count on him to hit all season, but he wasn't expected to pitch before mid-May as he's still working his way back from Tommy John surgery. With mid-May now seeming like the earliest play is likely to resume, Ohtani could now be a full two-way player for the entirety of the campaign. Manager Joe Maddon did note, however, that the Angels won't be wanting to give Ohtani a full workload in his first season back from injury, so whether he pitches right away could depend in part on how long the adjusted regular season schedule ends up being.

Ohtani will not be shut down from throwing in spite of the suspension of spring training and delay of the regular season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

General manager Billy Eppler noted Friday that Ohtani, as well as the remainder of the Angels' pitching staff, will continue throwing during Major League Baseball's hiatus. That keeps the righthander's timeline to return to game action set at mid-May. Depending on when the regular season commences, Ohtani could end up pitching for a significantly larger portion of the season than originally planned.

Ohtani will serve exclusively as a designated hitter early in the regular season and will pitch once a week when he returns to the rotation in mid-May, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

The tentative pitching plan has Ohtani pitching on the same day each week, as he did during his rookie campaign when he took the mound exclusively on Sundays. Bollinger suggests that Wednesday could be Ohtani's target day this season to take advantage of numerous Thursday off-days in the Angels' schedule. Of course, that outlook may change depending on how the calendar is adjusted following Thursday's announcement of a delay to the start of the regular season.

Ohtani is considering adding a leg kick to his swing, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

While Ohtani has yet to commit to implementing the leg kick in his hitting approach, he believes that doing so could improve his timing at the plate. That could potentially help him improve upon the subpar 25.9 percent strikeout rate he posted in 2019.

Ohtani (elbow) threw off a mound Sunday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Although the throwing session was described as "basically just playing catch off the mound," it represents another step in a positive direction for Ohtani as he completes his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Per Bollinger, the Japanese star remains on track to toss his first "real" bullpen session in mid-March. In the meantime, Ohtani will focus on hitting -- he's slated to begin the season as the Angels' primary DH.

Ohtani (elbow) could return to a major-league mound in mid-May, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The Angels said Ohtani "completed" his Tommy John rehabilitation in December, but it sounds like they still plan on slow-playing him on the mound in spring training with an eye toward a return to pitching during the second month of the regular season. There has been nothing to suggest Ohtani's hitting to be limited out of the gate, so expect him to serve as the primary DH to begin 2020 before eventually playing both ways.

Ohtani (elbow/knee) completed his throwing progression Thursday and is now finished with Tommy John rehab, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Ohtani was recovering from Tommy John surgery and knee surgery, but his rehab now appears to be complete after three weeks of throwing off a mound. The right-hander will now be shut down from throwing for the remainder of the offseason prior to spring training. The team will determine his usage going forward during spring training, but he is expected to have an innings cap and not pitch more than once per week in 2020, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani (elbow/knee) was cleared to throw off a mound Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani is working his way back from both Tommy John surgery and knee surgery. He's expected to throw off a mound for three or four weeks, at which point his recovery from the elbow procedure will be considered complete.

Ohtani (knee) remains on track to finish his rehab in mid-December, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was limited to hitting duty all season while his arm recovered from Tommy John surgery. His time as a designated hitter ended prematurely as well after he was shut down for surgery on his left kneecap in mid-September. He's been running on an anti-gravity treadmill and throwing from a distance of 120 feet, with the goal of getting back on a mound by the end of the month.

Ohtani (knee) has been cleared to throw from 100 feet, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Ohtani was cleared to begin a throwing program at the end of September after undergoing surgery on his left knee a few weeks earlier. He's on track to start throwing from a mound by the end of November, per Fletcher.

Ohtani (knee) played catch will sitting down Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

As Fletcher mentioned, this marks the beginning of Ohtani's throwing program. He underwent surgery on his left knee in mid-September to address a bipartite patella, but now that he's been given the green light to throw, he'll continue to ramp up his activity until mid-December.