Los Angeles Angels Superstar Shohei Ohtani to Skip Next Start Due to Fatigue

Manager Phil Nevin told the media that Shohei Ohtani was dealing with arm fatigue and would not start for the Angels against the Rangers.

Los Angeles Angels designated hitter and pitcher Shohei Ohtani will miss his next start on the mound, according to manager Phil Nevin.

Nevin told reporters that Ohtani recently talked to him about dealing with arm fatigue, and that he subsequently scratched the superstar from his scheduled start against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.

Ohtani's next start will now come against the Cincinnati Reds back in Anaheim. That series will take place from Aug. 21 to 23.

With Ohtani out of the rotation this next time through, Patrick Sandoval and Lucas Giolito are slated to start two of the Angels' three games against the Rangers. The third spot has yet to be determined, although Griffin Canning is a candidate to fill that spot after coming off the injured list Sunday.

Ohtani will remain in the lineup during his extended pitching hiatus, continuing to hit out of the No. 2 hole. The heavy AL MVP favorite is batting .305 with 40 home runs, 83 RBI, 16 stolen bases, a 1.068 OPS and a 9.0 WAR.

As a pitcher, Ohtani is 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA, 1.064 WHIP and 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings through 22 starts.

Ohtani became the first player in MLB history with 40 home runs and 10 wins in the same season on Wednesday. Last year, he became the first player in MLB history with 30 home runs and 10 wins in the same season.

Even though he'll be taking time off from pitching, Ohtani will surely keep making history in the final seven weeks of the regular season.

The Angels are 58-60, which puts them 6.5 games behind the third and final AL Wild Card spot. There are also three teams between them and the Toronto Blue Jays, making it highly unlikely that Ohtani will get his first taste of postseason action in 2023.

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