(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
The Los Angeles Angels need Shohei Ohtani in order to qualify for the postseason.
That’s an irrefutable fact: he is their best pitcher and their best hitter.
He has been dealing with cramping in his right hand and fingers, a situation that resulted in his Thursday start being cut short after four innings.
The pitcher was seen disappointed in the dugout, especially after his team blew a 3-1 lead and lost by a final of 5-3 to the Seattle Mariners.
Talking with the media on Friday, he acknowledged his hand has been an issue this last week and he doesn’t know if he will have to miss a start.
“Shohei Ohtani didn’t say one way or the other whether or not he’d need to miss a start or take a few days off from hitting. He said it’s joint decision with Nevin. But he acknowledged he’s dealing with cramping a decent amount the last week,” Angels insider Sam Blum tweeted.
Shohei Ohtani didn’t say one way or the other whether or not he’d need to miss a start or take a few days off from hitting. He said it’s joint decision with Nevin.
But he acknowledged he’s dealing with cramping a decent amount the last week.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) August 4, 2023
The cramping hasn’t stopped him from posting a stellar 3.32 ERA as a pitcher this year, and it also wasn’t much of a problem when he went 2-for-2 with a home run on Thursday.
However, it affects him specifically when pitching.
Losing Ohtani at this point of the season as a pitcher would severely affect their postseason hopes.
That’s why he says he will probably have to discuss it with his manager and probably the front office, too.
However, if he is injured, perhaps a couple of weeks without throwing can be highly beneficial as the team tries to survive without him in the rotation.
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