| Date | News | Comment |
| Jun 29 2025 | Ohtani allowed one hit and issued one walk while striking out one batter over two scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Royals on Saturday. He also went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts as a batter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Ohtani didn't have his highest pitch count of the campaign -- his 27 pitches Saturday were one fewer than he accumulated during his season debut on the mound June 16 -- he took another step forward by tossing more than one inning for the first time as a Dodger. The two-way star also made a strong statement about how far he's come in his recovery from Tommy John surgery by pumping in a 101.7 mph fastball -- the fastest of his career. Ohtani now was three starts under his belt as a pitcher this season, allowing one run on three hits with a 3:1 K:BB over four innings. He'll likely continue to build up gradually, so fantasy managers should still view him as an opener during his turns in the rotation until he gets a longer leash to pitch deeper into games. |
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| Jun 28 2025 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that the team plans to have Ohtani pitch into the second inning Saturday, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In both of Ohtani's first two starts, he completed exactly one inning, tossing 28 pitches in the first of those appearances and 18 in the second. Though Roberts stated that Ohtani could get a chance to exceed one frame Saturday, that will likely depend on how hard he has to work in the first inning. It's unlikely that the two-way superstar will go beyond two frames, so he should not be expected to qualify for a win no matter how well he pitches. |
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| Jun 27 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run, two walks and two RBI during Friday's 5-4 win over the Royals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29th home run of Ohtani's season led off the game, and he added his seventh triple of the season as well. The 30-year-old has now had at least one hit in five straight games, going 7-for-17 over that stretch with two triples, four home runs and 10 RBI. The reigning NL MVP is putting together another fantastic campaign, slashing .295/.396/.649 in 81 games this year. |
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| Jun 26 2025 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Thursday that Ohtani will start as a pitcher Saturday in Kansas City, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This will be Ohtani's third start of the campaign and follows his one-inning outing against Washington on Sunday. The two-way superstar has finished exactly one frame in each of his two starts so far, and it's not yet clear if he will be allowed to pitch beyond that Saturday against the Royals. Ohtani has served as Los Angeles' DH and batted leadoff in both games he's pitched in so far, so his scheduled appearance on the mound shouldn't impact his presence in the lineup as a hitter. |
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| Jun 25 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani delivered a two-run home run off Ryan Rolison in the sixth inning to give the Dodgers an 8-3 lead. Since the start of June, Ohtani is 23-for-86 (.267) with five homers, three doubles and two triples over 22 games. He's one of three players in baseball with an OPS above 1.000. |
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| Jun 22 2025 | Ohtani threw a perfect inning with two strikeouts and went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a three-RBI triple and two additional runs scored during Sunday's 13-7 win over the Nationals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani surrendered a run and two hits in his 2025 pitching debut, but he rebounded with a dominant first inning Sunday. The two-way star showcased exactly why he's one of the most valuable players in baseball, adding to the stellar pitching by plating five runs and reaching safely three times. The performance marked Ohtani's second game this season with five-plus RBI and snapped a 2-for-19 (.105) slump that occurred over his past five games. With 26 home runs, he trails only Cal Raleigh (31) and Aaron Judge (27) in home runs in 2025. |
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| Jun 19 2025 | Ohtani is scheduled to make his next start as a pitcher Sunday against the Nationals in Los Angeles. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani will begin his time as a two-way player with the Dodgers with a two-start pitching week, but just like when he made his mound debut in Monday's win over the Padres, the right-hander is expected to serve as an opener this Sunday. After tossing one inning and 28 pitches Monday, Ohtani could push up to the 2-to-3-inning range and toss around 40 pitches against the Nationals, though the Dodgers haven't provided official word on what his workload might look like. According to Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com, manager Dave Roberts did note that Ben Casparius would "most likely" pitch behind Ohtani again, after Casparius previously earned the win Monday while covering 3.2 innings out of the bullpen. The Dodgers' goal is for Ohtani to gradually get stretched out enough to handle a typical starter's workload without needing to be followed by a bulk reliever, though it will probably take him at least a couple more outings for him to get there. |
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| Jun 17 2025 | Ohtani completed one inning in a no-decision during Monday's 6-3 win over the Padres, allowing one run on two hits with no walks or strikeouts. He also went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and two RBI as a hitter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Thus begins the two-way Ohtani era in Los Angeles. While the revered superstar showed some rust in his Dodgers debut as a pitcher -- he threw just 16 of 28 pitches for strikes and allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base, one of whom came around to score -- he also topped out at 100.2 miles per hour on his fastball and deployed four different pitch types. In addition, Ohtani -- who became the third National League player since 1900 to start a game as a pitcher and serve as his team's leadoff hitter -- plated more runs than he gave up, crushing an RBI double in the third inning and adding a run-scoring single in the fourth. It's important to remember that Ohtani's initial game appearances are the equivalent of what would be a minor-league rehab stint for most pitchers -- he hadn't thrown a pitch in the majors since 2023 prior to Monday, but his status as a star hitter prevents him from going on an actual rehab assignment. With that in mind, it's probably going to take Ohtani several appearances to build up to a normal starter's workload, and he'll likely continue to work in the equivalent of an opener role in the short term. Per Matthew Moreno of DodgerBlue.com, the Dodgers plan on having Ohtani make starts as a pitcher every six or seven days, so he should be back on the mound for the final game of the Dodgers' homestand Sunday versus Washington. |
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| Jun 15 2025 | The Dodgers announced that Ohtani (elbow) will serve as the team's starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Padres. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the first time since making his last appearance as a pitcher with the Angels on Aug. 23, 2023 before undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery less than a month later, Ohtani will step back on an MLB mound. The Dodgers initially planned to have Ohtani throw at least one more simulated game this week before potentially clearing him to serve as a two-way player, but the right-hander reportedly pushed to resume pitching in MLB games, and the front office and medical staffs were comfortable honoring the request, per DodgerBlue.com. Though Ohtani tossed 44 pitches over three innings in his most recent sim game this past Monday, manager Dave Roberts said that the 30-year-old will operate as an opener in his first start, according to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register. With that in mind, Ohtani might be limited to as little as one inning Monday, and he'll likely be built up gradually over the course of multiple outings before he's capable of handling a traditional starter's workload. In the meantime, Ohtani will continue to serve as the Dodgers' everyday designated hitter on his non-pitching days. He closed out the weekend on a high note, going 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Giants. |
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| Jun 14 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs, two walks and three total runs scored in Saturday's 11-5 win over the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was off to a bit of a quiet start in June, going just 11-for-48 (.229) with four extra-base hits and a 4:14 BB:K over his first 12 games of the month. He got things back on track with a big performance Saturday, which included a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first inning as well as a second solo shot in the sixth. Ohtani leads the National League with 25 homers and is one behind Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh for the major-league lead. Ohtani has added a .290/.385/.638 slash line, 41 RBI, 71 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 11 doubles and five triples across 69 contests. |
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| Jun 8 2025 | Ohtani (foot/elbow) is expected to be fine after being hit by a pitch in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Cardinals, but the team will postpone his upcoming live BP session until Tuesday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was struck in the left foot by an 86.7 mph sweeper from reliever Matt Svanson in the top of the eighth inning, ultimately remaining in the game. The 30-year-old was set to face live hitters Monday as he continues to work his way back to the mound in 2025, but that session will now be pushed back another day. Ohtani's foot doesn't seem to be an issue, so he can be considered a full go ahead of Monday's series opener with the Padres in San Diego. |
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| Jun 7 2025 | Ohtani (elbow) will next throw to live hitters Monday in San Diego, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was on schedule to throw to hitters this weekend in St. Louis, but with rain in the forecast and day games both Saturday and Sunday, the Dodgers are opting to push the session back a few days in order to take advantage of better weather and timing. In Ohtani's previous sim game, he threw 29 pitches and topped out at 97 mph with his fastball while deploying his full arsenal. Ohtani is loosely slated to throw to hitters each weekend, and it's unclear if moving this session to Monday will impact his scheduled sim game next weekend. |
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| Jun 3 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a home run and a sacrifice fly Monday in an extra-inning loss to the Mets. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Dodgers were held scoreless through six frames before Ohtani launched a solo shot to right field in the seventh. The star slugger added a sacrifice fly in the ninth off Mets closer Edwin Diaz to send the game to an extra frame. Ohtani has recently ramped up his preparation as a pitcher as he gets closer to making his Dodgers debut on the mound, but that work hasn't impacted his hitting -- he's belted six long balls among his eight total hits over his past eight games. |
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| Jun 2 2025 | Ohtani (elbow) threw 29 pitches in a two-inning live batting practice session Saturday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The live BP session was the second in just under a week for Ohtani, who previously threw 22 pitches of live BP on May 25 in what was his first time facing hitters since undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery in September 2023. According to manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani's fastball sat between 94 and 95 miles per hour and topped out at 97 mph during the workout, and the right-hander made use of his full arsenal. The Dodgers are tentatively planning on having Ohtani throw one live BP session every weekend while steadily increasing his workloads, and once he reaches the point that he's covering about five simulated innings of 75 pitches, he should get the green light to make his first appearance as a pitcher since Aug. 23, 2023. In the meantime, Ohtani will continue to serve as the Dodgers' everyday designated hitter. He finished the Dodgers' weekend series against the Yankees with four hits -- including two solo home runs -- over his 13 at-bats. |
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| May 30 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two solo home runs in Friday's 8-5 win over the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's first-inning blast answered Aaron Judge's homer. In the sixth, Ohtani went yard again to spark a four-run inning. The 30-year-old superstar matched Cal Raleigh's power production Friday to stay atop the majors with 22 homers. Ohtani has added a spectacular .294/.394/.670 slash line with 37 RBI, 61 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, nine doubles and four triples across 55 contests. He had gone nine games without a multi-hit effort entering Friday, but Ohtani still came through with four homers in that stretch. |
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| May 27 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer, two walks and two runs scored in Tuesday's victory against the Guardians. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani became the first player to reach the 20-homer mark this season with his two-run blast in the fourth inning. He's gone deep in three straight games and has 14 home runs over his last 26 contests. The superstar slugger now boasts a terrific .296/.396/.657 slash line with 33 extra-base hits and 59 runs scored. |
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| May 26 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, two walks and three total runs in Monday's 7-2 win against the Guardians. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani belted a leadoff homer for the second straight contest, this time swatting a 378-foot shot on Gavin Williams' first pitch of the game. The two-way star leads the majors in both total home runs (19) and leadoff long balls (five) this season. With 11 thefts to his name as well, Ohtani is currently the only hitter in the majors with at least 15 homers and at least 10 steals. |
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| May 25 2025 | Ohtani threw a 22-pitch live batting practice session Sunday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Facing live hitters for the first time since undergoing his second career Tommy John surgery Sept. 19, 2023, Ohtani reached a major milestone Sunday in what's been a slow ramp-up process with his throwing program. While taking the mound for five total at-bats against teammates Hyeseong Kim and Dalton Rushing as well as a member of the Dodgers coaching staff, Ohtani recorded a pair of strikeouts and a groundout and gave up a walk and a double. Per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said that Ohtani was throwing "free and easy" and sported a fastball that sat around 94 to 95 miles per hour during Sunday's workout while also mixing in a couple of sweepers as well as a splitter. Ohtani will likely continue to ramp up the intensity and volume of his live sessions over the next few weeks before the team pinpoints a target date for his debut as a pitcher. In the meantime, his preparations as a pitcher aren't expected to prevent him from serving as the Dodgers' everyday designated hitter; Ohtani will be in the lineup in the leadoff spot for Sunday's series finale versus the Mets. |
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| May 23 2025 | The bullpen session against live hitters that Ohtani (elbow) was originally scheduled to throw pregame Saturday will instead take place Sunday, Jorge Castillo of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The bullpen session will be a major step in Ohtani's journey to return to game action as a pitcher, as it will mark the first time he has faced hitters since he underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2023. Per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, the reason for the session moving from Saturday to Sunday is the late ending of Friday's game against the Mets, which included a 98-minute rain delay and went 13 innings, finishing just shy of 1:00 am ET. Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a walk and a run in the Dodgers' victory. |
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| May 20 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a loss to the Diamondbacks on Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani hit the first of back-to-back solo homers with Mookie Betts in the sixth inning, going 389 feet to left field. The long ball was Ohtani's 17th of the campaign, pushing him back ahead of Kyle Schwarber -- who went deep earlier in the day -- for the MLB lead. Ohtani is in the midst of a big month of May, slashing .352/.427/.859 with 10 home runs, 21 RBI, 19 runs and a stolen base through 17 games this month. |
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| May 17 2025 | Ohtani (elbow) threw an up-down bullpen session Saturday and totaled 50 pitches, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani split his work evenly between two simulated innings, with this marking the most pitches he has thrown in his recovery. He still isn't throwing any breaking pitches, but he could begin to face hitters soon. |
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| May 16 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Angels. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has four homers and eight RBI over his last three games. That power surge, part of a larger binge of nine long balls and 19 RBI across 14 games in May, has helped him take over the major-league lead in homers at 16. He's added a .316 batting average, 1.106 OPS, 29 RBI, 49 runs scored and 10 stolen bases over 43 contests. Simply put, Ohtani continues to make the remarkable look routine. |
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| May 15 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI in Thursday's 19-2 win over the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Ohtani's first multi-homer game of the season. He contributed a sacrifice fly in the second inning, a three-run homer in the third and a two-run blast in the fourth to make a sizable impact in this rout. Ohtani joins Aaron Judge and Kyle Schwarber atop the major-league leaderboard with 15 homers this season, though the Dodgers' two-way superstar has hit eight of those long balls over his last 13 games. For the season, he's added a .310/.409/.673 slash line, 28 RBI, 48 runs scored, 10 stolen bases, eight doubles and four triples across 42 contests. |
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| May 10 2025 | Ohtani (elbow) threw an up-down bullpen session Saturday in Arizona, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was the first time Ohtani has done an up-down -- meaning he simulated a break between innings -- as he continues this pitching progression. Aside from the added wrinkle, the session was similar to recent bullpens the two-way star has thrown, as he tossed around 35 pitches consisting of four-seamers, two-seamers and splitters. Ohtani has yet to deploy his full pitch mix or throw to live hitters, however, so he's probably still at least a couple months away from returning to game action. The Dodgers plan to have him build up through simulated games since his role as a designated hitter precludes him from going on a minor-league rehab pitching assignment. |
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| May 9 2025 | Ohtani went 3-for-6 with a three-home run, two doubles, an additional RBI and two total runs scored in Friday's 14-11 win over the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani had an RBI double in the second inning, but he saved the fireworks for the ninth. He punctuated the Dodgers' six-run rally in the ninth with his homer, putting them ahead again after they previously blew a five-run lead. Ohtani is on one of his power binges again -- during his seven-game hitting streak, he has gone 12-for-29 (.414) with five homers, four doubles and a triple, as well as 10 RBI and 11 runs scored. His batting average (.304) is above .300 for the first time since April 9, and he's added a 1.063 OPS, 12 homers, 20 RBI, 43 runs, 10 steals, eight doubles and four triples over 37 contests. Another 50-50 campaign is likely asking too much, but Ohtani still has 40-40 potential at his current pace. |
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| May 6 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and two RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-inning loss to the Marlins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the fourth time in the last 10 games that Ohtani has gone yard, a stretch in which the 30-year-old superstar is batting .385 (15-for-39) with a blistering 11 extra-base hits, including five doubles and two triples. On the season, he boasts a .296/.399/.607 slash line with 10 homers, 10 steals, 15 RBI and 38 runs in 34 contests. |
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| May 5 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base in Monday's win against the Marlins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani walked, stole second base and scored a run in the third inning. He later belted a two-run shot in the fifth inning for his ninth long ball of the year. He's gone deep three times in his last six appearances after a seven-game homerless drought. Ohtani owns a .292/.399/.585 slash line with 17 extra-base hits and 10 steals over 153 plate appearances. |
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| May 3 2025 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, two additional runs and a walk in a 10-3 win against Atlanta on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani broke a 1-1 tie with a big 415-foot solo homer to center field in the third inning. He reached base three other times in the rout and pushed his league-leading runs-scored total to 35. Ohtani's role as Los Angeles' leadoff hitter has been a factor in his accumulation of just 11 RBI so far this season, but the two-way star has otherwise been excellent with a .293/.396/.569 slash line while maintaining a 40-40 pace with eight homers and nine stolen bases through 31 games. |
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| May 1 2025 | Ohtani (elbow) will continue throwing off a mound twice per week going forward, per MLB.com. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani took a brief pause in his throwing program upon going on the paternity list April 18, but he returned to bullpen work April 26 and is expected to resume his previous throwing schedule, which included twice-per-week bullpens, moving forward. The two-way star continues to feature as the Dodgers' leadoff hitter and primary DH, but it remains uncertain when he'll make his debut as a pitcher for Los Angeles. |
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| Apr 30 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a walk, a solo home run, a second run scored and a stolen base in Tuesday's 15-2 win over the Marlins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old superstar set the tone for the night when he ripped the first pitch he saw from Sandy Alcantara down the right-field line for a leadoff homer. It was Ohtani's first homer since becoming a new father earlier this month, but it hasn't been a distraction for him -- over his last 11 games, he's slashing .311/.415/.622 with three long balls, four steals, five RBI and 14 runs. |
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| Apr 20 2025 | Ohtani (personal) was reinstated from the paternity list and is expected to start at designated hitter Sunday against the Rangers, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was away from the Dodgers for the past two games to attend the birth of his daughter, but he's back with the club for Sunday's series finale in Texas. Through 20 games this season, the 30-year-old has a .288/.380/.550 slash line with six homers, five steals eight RBI and 21 runs in 92 plate appearances. |
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| Apr 19 2025 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Ohtani (paternity) is expected to be back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale against the Rangers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani missed the first two games of the series to welcome the birth of his daughter, but he'll be back with the Dodgers for Sunday's game. Eddie Rosario has served as the designated hitter for the Dodgers for the past two games, but he'll likely be optioned back to Triple-A Oklahoma City when Ohtani is activated from the paternity list. |
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| Apr 18 2025 | The Dodgers placed Ohtani on the paternity list Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani will be allowed to miss up to three games while he spends time with his growing family, which means he'll be back with the team by Tuesday at the latest. Eddie Rosario will come up from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill the open spot on the active roster. |
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| Apr 16 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in an 8-7 win against Colorado on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani led off the bottom half of the first inning in jaw-dropping fashion, belting a 448-foot solo shot to right field off veteran German Marquez. The two-way star plated another run (albeit in less dramatic fashion) later in the frame on a single to right field to cap a seven-run opening inning for Los Angeles. Ohtani is tied for fourth in the league to this point with six home runs, and he's added five steals, putting him on pace to approach a 40-40 campaign after logging MLB's first ever 50-50 season last year. |
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| Apr 14 2025 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional runs against the Rockies in a 5-3 win Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's homer came in the third inning, when he belted a 408-foot shot to center field. Prior to Monday, the star slugger had been in a bit of a power drought, going deep just once over his previous nine games. Ohtani's spot atop the Dodgers' order has hamstrung his ability to drive in runs to some extent, as he has just six RBI through 18 games. Beyond that, though, he's been quite productive, posting a .296/.390/.549 slash line, five homers and four stolen bases. He's also scored 18 runs, second-most in the majors. |
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| Apr 7 2025 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer, a triple and a walk in Monday's 6-4 loss the Nationals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Japanese superstar was a perfect 3-for-3 against southpaw starter MacKenzie Gore. After leading the game off with an infield single, Ohtani slugged a 378-foot homer in the third inning to tie the game at 2-2. The three-time MVP wasn't finished, however, returning in the fifth to hit his first triple of the season. Ohtani looks headed for another great season, as he's opened with a .311/.436/.644 slash line across 55 plate appearances. |
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| Apr 5 2025 | Ohtani (elbow) is throwing a bullpen session Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani threw what was described as a "light" bullpen in the outfield Thursday, and Saturday's session is slated to be "fuller," per Plunkett. The two-way star doesn't yet have a timeline to face hitters, but he's back to ramping up after slowing down his throwing progression in the early part of March as he focused on his preparations as a hitter. If Ohtani's throwing rehab doesn't experience any additional delays, he could make his first MLB pitching appearance since 2023 at some point in May. |
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| Apr 3 2025 | Ohtani (elbow) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is scheduled for another Saturday, but there's not yet a projected date for him to face live hitters, Cody Snavely of DodgersBeat reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani resumed tossing bullpens last Saturday when he threw 25 pitches (all fastballs) in his first session off a mound since Feb. 25. The two-way star then threw a "light" session Wednesday, and he's scheduled for a "heavier" bullpen Saturday, according to manager Dave Roberts. However, there remains no definitive timeframe for when Ohtani will begin throwing to hitters, and the organization appears intent to practice patience in the Japanese hurler's throwing ramp-up. Roberts said in late March that the he is hoping to get at least 18-to-20 starts from Ohtani this season, per Valentina Martinez of SI.com, which would likely require Ohtani to begin pitching in games by mid-May. |
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| Mar 29 2025 | Ohtani went 0-for-2 with two runs, two walks and a stolen base in a 7-3 win against Detroit on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he ended the game without a hit for the first time this season, Ohtani drew two walks and scored twice. The superstar slugger also got into the stolen base column for the first time on the campaign with a swipe of second base in the seventh inning. After becoming MLB's first 50-50 player last year, there's some expectation that Ohtani will be less active on the basepaths this season, but Saturday served as a reminder that he's still capable of making an impact in that category. |
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| Mar 28 2025 | Ohtani went 2-or-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Thursday's 5-4 victory versus the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani provided a key insurance run in the seventh inning with a solo blast to left field. The superstar slugger is off to a hot start to the 2025 campaign, slashing .417/.500/1.000 with two homers and two RBI through three contests. He's yet to attempt a stolen base and is expected to run less following last season's historic 50-50 campaign, but Ohtani still figures to be one of the baseball's most impactful bats and is also expected to resume throwing off the mound during the upcoming weekend as he works toward returning to pitching in games for the first time since 2023. |
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| Mar 24 2025 | Ohtani is set to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani will throw off the mound for the first time since Feb. 25 as he gears up to make his return to the Dodgers' rotation at some point this season. The 30-year-old last pitched in 2023 with the Angels, posting a 3.14 ERA and 1.06 WHIP with 167 strikeouts over 132 innings in 23 starts. It's unclear if the team has a timeline for Ohtani's official return to the mound, but the expectation remains that it'll be during the 2025 campaign. |
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| Mar 19 2025 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with solo home run and two walks during Wednesday's 6-3 win over the Cubs in Tokyo. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After hitting a career-high 54 homers during the regular season in his first year as a Dodger in 2024, Ohtani didn't take long to deliver his first long ball of this season. The three-time MVP reached multiple times in each of the first two games of the season and has gone 3-for-8 with two walks, a double, a homer and three runs scored. |
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| Mar 18 2025 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and a strikeout in Tuesday's 4-1 win over the Cubs in Tokyo. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Japanese superstar was unable to deliver a home run in the first official game back in his home country, but he still produced as a leadoff man in the season opener. Ohtani recently slowed his pitching progression in order to ramp up his preparations as a hitter for Opening Day, but he's still expected to join the starting rotation sometime in May. For now, the 30-year-old will continue to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter as he works his way back from November shoulder surgery. |
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| Mar 10 2025 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said earlier this spring that he doesn't think Ohtani will receive as many plate appearances or steal as many bases this season, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Roberts noted that, from a "performance per plate appearance" perspective, he expects the reigning National League MVP to be just as productive. However, because Ohtani is pitching this season, the manager plans to play him a bit less at designated hitter, and he does not anticipate Ohtani being as aggressive on the bases because "he does need to pitch and (save) his legs." Ohtani stole 59 bases in 2024 after stealing a total of 57 over the previous three seasons. While Ohtani is probably not going to fall back to his previous levels, it does sound like fantasy managers should not be expecting him to run wild in 2025. Ohtani, who is coming back from left shoulder surgery, will be ready to DH during the Dodgers' March 18-19 series in Tokyo versus the Cubs and is expected to join the rotation sometime in May. |
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| Mar 6 2025 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed Thursday that Ohtani will not face hitters as a pitcher before going to Japan so that he can ramp up his preparations as a hitter, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani threw his last bullpen Feb. 25. He has continued to playing catch according to manager Dave Roberts, but they are giving him a pause from ramping up his pitching so he can intensify his hitting. Roberts also talked about May as a potential time for Ohtani's return to pitching, but added that they "just don't know" when the NL MVP will be able to take the mound, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. |
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| Mar 1 2025 | Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in a Cactus League win over the Angels on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani didn't take long to remind the baseball world about his 2024 MVP season, as he hit an opposite-field home run on the sixth pitch he saw during his first at-bat this spring. The two-way star's subsequent plate appearances were less dramatic, as he popped out in the second inning and struck out in the fifth. Ohtani is expected to begin the regular season strictly in a hitting role, but manager Dave Roberts said in early February that he expects Ohtani to be pitching in big-league games by May. |
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| Feb 26 2025 | Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) will make his Cactus League debut at designated hitter Friday versus the Angels, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has been brought along slowly in camp after November surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder. It's not clear when he might be ready to pitch in a game, but he's ready to hit and is fully expected to serve as the Dodgers' DH for their season-opening set in Tokyo versus the Cubs on March 18 and 19. |
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| Feb 24 2025 | Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) threw 25 pitches, including some cutters, in a bullpen session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Dave Roberts described Ohtani's inclusion of cutters in the throwing session as a "big step." Roberts also noted that Ohtani touched 95 mph during the bullpen, which is only a few ticks below his average fastball velocity in 2023, his most recent campaign on the mound. Ohtani appears to be on track to make his highly anticipated debut as a pitcher for the Dodgers sometime around the beginning of May. |
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| Feb 21 2025 | Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) will face live pitching Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It hasn't been determined yet whether it will be against a pitcher or a Trajekt machine, but either way it will be the first time Ohtani has gone up against live pitching this spring. Ohtani is being slow played a bit after November surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder, and he is not expected to pitch until around May 1. However, there are no concerns about his availability as a designated hitter for the Dodgers' season-opening set in Tokyo versus the Cubs on March 18 and 19. |
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| Feb 20 2025 | Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) has thrown mostly out of a windup during his first two bullpen sessions this spring and plans to continue to do so during games this season, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: When asked if he intends to use a windup during games this year, Ohtani responded, "That's my plan...With increasing the intensity, I do want to see how the body responds, how I respond to it. As of now, that's the plan." Using a windup is a shift from his previous norm, as the two-way star threw almost exclusively out of the stretch during his time on the mound with the Angels. A study published in 2024 concluded that there's no significant difference in velocity or injury risk for pro hurlers pitching out of the stretch versus out of a windup, so there may not be a tangible fantasy impact on Ohtani's decision to change his approach. |
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| Feb 16 2025 | Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) threw 14 pitches in a bullpen session consisting of two-seam and four-seam fastballs Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Per manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani's velocity sat in the 92-to-94 mph range during the throwing session, which pitching coach Mark Prior described as the two-way star "dipping his toe back in the water." The bullpen was Ohtani's first this spring, though he's been using his full arsenal while throwing from flat ground. Ohtani isn't expected to pitch in any Cactus League games and is unlikely to take the mound in a regular-season contest until around early May, but he should be in the Dodgers' lineup as a hitter when the team plays its opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo, Japan on March 18-19. |
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| Feb 12 2025 | Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) said Wednesday that he expects to throw his first bullpen session of spring training this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani is on the mend from November surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder as well as the September 2023 Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, but the two-way phenom took batting practice Wednesday without issue and will be ready to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter for the team's two-game season-opening set in Tokyo versus the Cubs on March 18 and 19. Manager Dave Roberts recently suggested that the 30-year-old could make his 2025 debut as a pitcher at some point in May, as Ohtani is already throwing his full repertoire off flat ground during camp and will take another step forward by getting on a mound this weekend. However, Roberts noted earlier Wednesday that Ohtani won't be cleared to pitch in any Cactus League games, so the four-time All-Star looks as though he'll have to gradually build up his pitch count through simulated games this spring and during the early portion of the season while he continues to play regularly as a DH. |
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| Feb 1 2025 | Manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that having Ohtani (shoulder) pitching by May "sounds about right," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has yet to take the mound for the Dodgers after undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023 and another procedure to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder in November. While his hiatus from pitching will seemingly extend about a month into the regular season, there's been no indication that the two-way superstar's surgeries will prevent him from being part of Los Angeles' Opening Day lineup. Ohtani has already proven that rehabbing from surgery doesn't bother him much at the plate, as he slashed .310/.390/.646 while recording the first 50-50 season in MLB history en route to being unanimously named the National League's MVP -- all while recovering from his Tommy John procedure. |
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| Dec 9 2024 | Manager Dave Roberts stated he's unlikely to deploy Ohtani (shoulder) as a pitcher during the team's opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo, Sonja Chen of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Dodgers are expected to exercise caution as the club brings him back to the mound following Tommy John surgery, so this report isn't a big surprise. Roberts also mentioned that once Ohtani is cleared to pitch, he expects to utilize the reigning MVP in the DH slot on the days he pitches. |
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| Nov 21 2024 | Ohtani was unanimously named the 2024 National League Most Value Player on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In the first year of his record setting contract with the Dodgers, Ohtani won his first MVP award in the National League unanimously. Having won two MVPs with the Angels prior, the superstar has now won an MVP in three of the last four seasons. He did so without throwing a pitch for the entirety of the 2024 season and became the first designated hitter to win the award. The 30-year-old was able to accomplish this feat with just his bat by notching up the first ever 50-50 season and falling just .004 shy of a Triple Crown. In search of his fourth MVP in 2025, he will be back on the mound. While speaking with the media after receiving the award, Ohtani noted that it is his goal to be cleared to pitch by Opening Day, but that both he and the Dodgers will take things cautiously, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. |
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| Nov 7 2024 | Ohtani's left shoulder surgery is likely to delay his pitching debut for the Dodgers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear in his left (non-throwing) shoulder, an injury he suffered during Game 2 of the World Series. While the expectation is that he will be ready to serve as a designated hitter during spring training and Opening Day, the timetable for Ohtani's first start on the mound for the Dodgers looks cloudy. The team elected to pause Ohtani's throwing program during the playoffs as he comes back from Tommy John surgery so as to not overtax him, and now the shoulder surgery will further delay his throwing program indefinitely. The Dodgers have a two-game series versus the Cubs in Japan from March 18-19 and then have their domestic opener against the Tigers on March 27. GM Brandon Gomes this week didn't rule out Ohtani being ready to pitch by the domestic opener, but Gomes "did not cast an optimistic picture of that possibility," per Harris. Ohtani was going to have workload restrictions in place on the mound in his first year back from Tommy John surgery anyway, so in that respect the delay isn't a huge deal. However, the situation creates an air of uncertainty with the two-way superstar's status. More clarity on Ohtani's situation should be available later in the offseason and into spring training. |
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| Nov 5 2024 | Ohtani underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a labrum tear in his left shoulder, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's injury, which he suffered in Game 2 of the World Series on Oct. 26, was initially described as a slight dislocation of his left shoulder. The labrum tear was a result of the dislocation, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. After suffering the injury, the NL MVP frontrunner recorded just one hit across 11 at-bats in the final three games of the series. The Dodgers expect he will be ready for spring training. |
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| Oct 28 2024 | Ohtani (shoulder) will start at designated hitter and bat leadoff Monday in Game 3 of the World Series versus the Yankees, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was forced to depart Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday due to a left shoulder subluxation suffered on a slide into second base. However, an MRI confirmed that he doesn't have any structural damage and he was able to go through 80 percent of his daily routine Sunday without issue. Ohtani will not be allowed to attempt any stolen bases Monday and perhaps not for the remainder of the series, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go at the plate as the Dodgers try to take a commanding 3-0 series lead. |
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| Oct 27 2024 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday that Ohtani (shoulder) is "in a great spot and will be playing" Monday in Game 3 of the World Series against the Yankees, Karl Ravech of ESPN reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The presumed National League MVP suffered a left shoulder subluxation on a slide while trying to steal second base during Game 2 on Saturday, but it appears he'll be ready to go for Game 3 after undergoing an MRI. Ohtani has gone 13-for-50 (.260 average) with 12 walks, three homers, 10 RBI and 13 runs through his first 13 playoff games. |
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| Oct 26 2024 | Ohtani left Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday with a left shoulder subluxation, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani exited the game after suffering a shoulder injury while trying to steal second base. Manager Dave Roberts noted that the strength in Ohtani's shoulder appeared to be good, but further testing will reveal the actual severity of the issue. |
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| Oct 24 2024 | Manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Ohtani (elbow) will not pitch in the World Series, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has always been a long shot to pitch at any point in 2024 while recovering from elbow surgery. He'll remain a key part of the Dodgers' lineup in the World Series and likely has his eyes set on returning to the mound in 2025. |
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| Sep 29 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani swiped 11 bases over his last 11 games of the season, ending the year with 59 steals on 63 attempts. He hit a mind-blowing .583 (28-for-48) in that span while adding six home runs and 20 RBI. He played in a career-high 159 games, posting a .310/.390/.646 slash line with 54 homers, 130 RBI, 134 runs scored, 38 doubles and seven triples. By most measures, it was a career year for Ohtani, who will look to continue leading the Dodgers' offense as he enters the postseason for the first time. |
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| Sep 28 2024 | Ohtani went 4-for-5 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, four RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 11-4 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While he took full advantage of a game at Coors Field with his bat, it was Ohtani's second-inning steal that allowed him to claim another record. With 57 pilfers on the season, Ohtani became the new single-season leader among Japanese-born players, topping the 56 steals recorded by future Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki in his 2001 AL Rookie of the Year and MVP campaign. The rest of Ohtani's numbers aren't too shabby either -- with two games left on the Dodgers' regular-season schedule, he's slashing .309/.390/.651 with 54 homers, 130 RBI and 133 runs. Luis Arraez's .314 batting average is all that's standing between Ohtani and a Triple Crown season. |
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| Sep 26 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Padres while also drawing a walk. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani walked in his first trip to the plate and advanced to second on a wild pitch from Dylan Cease before then scoring the Dodgers' first run on a Teoscar Hernandez single. The superstar slugger continued to come through in the clutch throughout the contest, giving Los Angeles the lead with an RBI double in the fourth, and again in the sixth with an RBI single while also going on to swipe his 56th bag of the campaign. Ohtani has now hit safely in eight straight games, batting .558 (19-for-34) over that stretch with six homers, 17 RBI, 12 runs and eight stolen bases. He's also registered multiple hits in four of his last six contests. |
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| Sep 23 2024 | Ohtani went 4-for-5 with a solo home run, two stolen bases and two runs scored in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's first three hits went for singles before he uncorked a 432-foot blast to center field to open up the bottom of the ninth and tie the game. He's now up to six home runs, seven steals and 15 RBI over his last six games, and he's totaled 16 hits over that span as well. His two steals Sunday brought him up to 55 for the year and he now needs just a pair of home runs to lock up a 55-55 campaign. |
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| Sep 22 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a walk, a run and a stolen base Saturday in a loss to Colorado. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani became the majors' first 50-50 player Thursday, and he seems intent not to stop there. He has stolen at least one base in each of his past four contests and is up to 53 steals on the campaign, second-most in the majors behind Elly De La Cruz. Ohtani has racked up 30 stolen bases since he was last caught stealing July 22 against San Francisco (54 games ago), and he's added 22 homers along with 52 RBI and 48 runs during that span. |
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| Sep 20 2024 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, a stolen base and an additional run scored in Friday's 6-4 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It wasn't quite the 6-for-6, three-homer, 10-RBI, two-steal masterpiece that helped him establish the 50-50 club Thursday, but Ohtani's performance Friday was another excellent one. Impressively, he's not slowing down in power or speed -- he has eight homers, nine steals and 24 RBI while batting .324 (24-for-74) over 18 contests in September. Overall, he has a .297/.378/.635 slash line with 52 homers, 52 steals, 122 RBI and 125 runs scored over 151 contests. Ohtani still has time to push for a 55-55 campaign, and he's likely to play regularly as long as home-field advantage through the National League playoffs is up for grabs. |
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| Sep 19 2024 | Ohtani went 6-for-6 with three home runs, four runs scored, 10 RBI and two stolen bases Thursday in a 20-4 win against the Marlins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani entered the game two homers and one stolen base short of recording the first 50-50 season in MLB history. He immediately picked up his stolen base, swiping third base after hitting a leadoff double in the first inning. Ohtani then went yard in back-to-back frames later in the contest to reach the record books. In addition to his season-long accomplishment, Ohtani also became the first player to record three home runs and two stolen bases in the same game, per Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com. |
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| Sep 18 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a stolen base Wednesday in an 8-4 win over Miami. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani didn't take long to continue his advancement on the majors' first 50-50 season, singling to left field to open the game and promptly swiping second base before advancing to third on a throwing error. His teammates were unable to bring him home, however, and Ohtani didn't reach base again in the contest. The Japanese superstar is up to 48 home runs and 49 thefts on the campaign with 10 regular-season games remaining on the schedule. |
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| Sep 12 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, a walk and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Cubs. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani wasted no time in getting the Dodgers on the board, launching a 405-foot leadoff homer off Jordan Wicks in the opening frame. The superstar slugger would then draw a leadoff walk in the second before going on to swipe his 48th bag of the campaign, and he later added a two-run single in the third to extend the Dodgers' lead. Ohtani has now recorded multiple hits in four of his last six games, batting .333 (8-for-24) over that stretch with three homers, five RBI and five runs scored. He's also gone deep five times over his last 12 contests. |
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| Sep 10 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs and a stolen base in Monday's loss to the Cubs. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani moved a little closer to the majors' first ever 50-50 season by recording his 47th theft of the campaign. The slugger also has 46 homers, putting him in reach of the historic mark with just under three weeks remaining in the regular season. Ohtani has recorded a home run and/or a stolen base in seven of his past 12 contests and is slashing .280/.339/.640 with five long balls, seven steals, seven RBI and 14 runs during that span. |
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| Sep 9 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's win over the Guardians. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani took Tanner Bibee 450 feet to right field in the fifth that was calculated at 116.7 MPH off the bat. The home run brought him up to 46 for the year, which ties his career high from 2021. He's also now at 101 RBI for the season, which is a new career high. Ohtani is the first player in MLB history to have 46 home runs and 46 stolen bases in the same season and he's knocking on the door of history with a 50-50 campaign. For the year, Ohtani is slashing .291/.374/.618 with 83 extra-base hits, 113 runs and a 72:145 BB:K in 642 plate appearances. |
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| Sep 6 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-1 loss to the Guardians. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was quiet in a two-game series against the Angels, going 1-for-8 with a triple, a walk and two runs scored. He got back to swinging a hot bat with his sixth-inning long ball, ending a four-game homer drought that was his longest since the All-Star break. Ohtani has eight multi-hit efforts over his last 15 games, going 19-for-63 (.302) with five homers and nine steals in that span. The superstar has a .291/.376/.617 slash line with 45 homers (one off his career high), 100 RBI, 112 runs scored, 46 steals, 30 doubles and seven triples through 138 contests. |
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| Sep 3 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with two walks, two runs and three stolen bases in Monday's 11-6 victory versus Arizona. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was in full leadoff-hitter mode Monday, reaches four times without an extra-base hit and running wild on the bases. The superstar slugger has been a terror on the basepaths for over five weeks, going a perfect 22-of-22 on theft attempts over his past 34 contests. Ohtani has added 13 home runs, 24 RBI, 30 runs and 15 walks during that span, and with 44 long balls and 46 steals on the season, his pursuit of MLB's first ever 50-50 campaign is well within reach. |
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| Sep 1 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI in Saturday's 8-6 win against Arizona. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani set off an explosive first inning for Los Angeles, leading off with a first-pitch solo shot to center field that was followed by consecutive homers by Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, it was the first time in franchise history that the team began a contest with three straight homers. For Ohtani, it was another entry into the team's record book following last week's securing of the first 40-40 season in franchise history. He's now up to 44 home runs and 43 thefts on the campaign -- no other player in major-league history has reached both those marks in the same season. |
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| Aug 30 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a double, a stolen base and two total runs scored in Friday's 10-9 win over the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's latest starring performance saw him reach 43 homers and 43 steals, making him the first player in major-league history to reach both marks in the same season. After a bumpy start to August, Ohtani has come on strong by hitting safely in 10 of the last 12 games. In that span, he's gone 16-for-49 (.327) with six homers, 10 RBI and eight steals. He's up to a .294/.379/.620 slash line while adding 96 RBI, 106 runs scored, 30 doubles and six triples through 132 contests this year. After Friday, the Dodgers have 27 games left for Ohtani to take a run at becoming the first member of the 50-50 club. |
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| Aug 29 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a homer, two stolen bases and three runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Orioles. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani crushed a hanging slider from Corbin Burnes to lead off the contest and added a single in his second trip to the plate before swiping his 41st bag of the season and eventually coming around to score for a second time. The superstar slugger has now tallied two hits in back-to-back games and in four of his last five overall. Over that latter stretch, he's batting .400 (8-for-20) with three homers, seven RBI, eight runs and three stolen bases. He's also scored at least one run in six straight contests. |
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| Aug 25 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run Saturday in an extra-inning loss to the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: One day after belting a walk-off grand slam to become MLB's sixth member of the 40-40 club, Ohtani went deep again with a two-run shot to right field in the fifth inning. The slugger has homered four times during his current seven-game hitting streak, during which he's added eight RBI, five stolen bases, eight runs and a .345/.406/.828 slash line. The only MLB players to reach four homers so far this season are Ohtani and Aaron Judge (who's one long ball away from 50). |
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| Aug 24 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) threw 10 pitches off a bullpen mound Saturday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani still won't pitch in 2024 but Saturday marks the first time he's thrown off a mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2023. The milestone comes one day after he joined the 40/40 club with a walk-off grand slam. The 29-year-old is expected to be a cleared to pitch in time for spring training. |
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| Aug 23 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a walk-off grand slam and a stolen base in Friday's 7-3 win over the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani entered Friday one homer and one steal shy of securing a 40-40 season. He got the steal out of the way early, swiping second after hitting a single in the fourth inning. The 30-year-old then put together a Hollywood-level encore, taking Colin Poche deep for a walk-off grand slam in the ninth, which was Ohtani's first career walk-off homer. Ohtani is the first Dodger to join the 40-40 club, and in addition to those stellar milestone marks, he's added a .292/.378/.614 slash line with 92 RBI, 97 runs scored, 29 doubles and six triples over 126 contests this year. That said, Ohtani has found less success at the plate in August, batting .209 (18-for-86) this month, though he still has eight homers and 12 steals over his last 20 games. |
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| Aug 22 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a walk, two runs and a stolen base Wednesday in an 8-4 victory over the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has begun to emerge from a slump that saw him bat .164 over his first 14 games in August -- he's since built a five-game hitting streak during which he's batting .300 with two homers, two RBI and five runs. The slugger has added four thefts during that span to push his total to a career-high 39 in 43 attempts. Ohtani is now one home run and one stolen base away from going 40-40 on the campaign. |
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| Aug 21 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a triple and a stolen base in Tuesday's 6-3 victory versus Seattle. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani laced a triple in the third inning and added a single in the eighth. Following his final hit, the slugger swiped second base for his 38th theft of the campaign. Ohtani also has 39 home runs through 124 games, so he appears to be a lock for the sixth 40-40 season in MLB history. He has a legitimate shot at MLB's first 50-50 campaign, as he's currently on pace for 50 homers and 48 thefts. |
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| Aug 19 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 2-1 win against St. Louis. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani slugged his NL-leading 39th homer of the campaign in the fifth inning. It was his second long ball in as many games and his seventh through 16 contests in August. Ohtani is batting only .174 this month, but nine of his 12 hits (seven homers, one double and one triple) have gone for extra bases, and he's racked up excellent counting stats with 12 RBI, 11 runs and nine stolen bases. |
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| Aug 18 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals with a solo homer, two stolen bases and two runs scored while also drawing a walk. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani drew a leadoff walk to open the contest and stole second before later coming home on a Freddie Freeman single. The slugger would then go on to add a second steal in the third, along with a solo homer in the fifth. It marked Ohtani's third multi-steal effort this month, and he's now homered in three of his last six games. However, he's still batting just .171 (11-for-64) in August with six long balls, 10 RBI, eight runs and nine stolen bases. |
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| Aug 15 2024 | Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk, two stolen bases and a run scored in Wednesday's loss to the Brewers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani reached on a fielding error from Joey Ortiz in his first at-bat before coming around to score the Dodgers' first run on a Teoscar Hernandez walk three batters later. The superstar slugger would then go on to steal second and third after drawing a walk in his second trip to the plate, giving him 35 stolen bases on the season. It also marked his sixth multi-steal effort of the campaign, and he's now scored at least one run in three straight games. Ohtani is batting just .176 (9-for-51) so far in August, though he's still racked up five homers, 10 RBI, eight runs and seven stolen bases over that stretch. |
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| Aug 14 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in a 7-2 win against Milwaukee on Tuesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani gave Los Angeles a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a 413-foot solo shot. It was his 37th long ball of the campaign, most in the National League and second in the majors behind Aaron Judge (42). Ohtani also has 33 stolen bases, giving him a legitimate chance of recording the sixth 40-40 season in major-league history. |
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| Aug 12 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and an additional run during Monday's 5-2 win over the Brewers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani notched his 36th home run of the year Monday, taking Freddy Peralta yard in fifth inning to extend the Dodgers lead to 4-0. In his last 16 games, Ohtani has lifted six homers with 11 runs and 12 RBI while logging almost as many walks (10) as strikeouts (12). |
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| Aug 9 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 9-5 win over the Pirates. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's blast sparked a five-run rally for the Dodgers in the third inning. He's gone just 6-for-30 (.200) over seven games in August, but three of his knocks in that span have been homers, giving him 35 on the year, one ahead of Atlanta's Marcell Ozuna for the National League lead. Ohtani is slashing .302/.389/.622 with 83 RBI, 87 runs scored, 32 steals, 29 doubles and four triples over 113 contests this season. |
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| Aug 8 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) hopes to begin throwing off a mound by early September, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's current throwing program as he comes back from right UCL surgery has him playing catch from 150 feet three days per week at 85 percent intensity. He will progress to four days per week and then five before being cleared to throw off the mound. As long as all of those stages go off without a hitch, the hope is Ohtani will be able to face hitters either via live batting practice or a simulated game by October. He would then be shut down for a while before eventually ramping things back up in the offseason. Ohtani is aiming to be a two-way player again in 2025. |
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| Aug 6 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a home run, two total RBI and a stolen base in Monday's 5-3 win over Philadelphia. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani tied the score with a sacrifice fly in the third inning and added a solo homer in the eighth. He also swiped a bag in the fifth frame. This was the seventh time this season that Ohtani has stolen a base and homered in the same game. He's making a serious run at the Triple Crown in the National League, leading the circuit in batting average (.309) and homers (34) while ranking second in RBI (81). He's also tied for second in the NL with 32 stolen bases. |
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| Aug 4 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with three stolen bases, a walk and a run scored in Saturday's 10-0 win over Oakland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani reached base in two of his first three trips to the plate and later added a leadoff single in the ninth to kick off another scoring run for the Dodgers. The superstar slugger went on to swipe two bags in that frame before coming around to score on a Nick Ahmed single, and he had an earlier theft to finish the contest with a season-high three steals. Ohtani has now stolen at least one base in five of his last seven games and is up to 31 on the season. He also has a National League-high 33 home runs, making Ohtani the majors' first member of the 30-30 club this season. |
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| Aug 2 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a three-run home run in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani had gone 0-for-11 over his previous three games and was hitless through four at-bats Friday. He went deep in the ninth inning to get the Dodgers within a run, but they couldn't find a tying run. The brief slump had little impact on Ohtani's season-long numbers -- he's still at a stellar .308/.398/.630 slash line with 33 long balls, 28 stolen bases, 79 RBI and 84 runs scored through 107 contests. |
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| Jul 31 2024 | Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk, a run and an RBI in Tuesday's extra-inning loss to the Padres. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Ohtani was hitless for a second straight game, he managed to swipe a bag for the fourth consecutive contest. He's already reached a career-high mark with 28 steals on the season and not only should easily reach 30 thefts for the first time but has a legitimate chance to get to 40. With 32 homers on the campaign, Ohtani is threatening to record the sixth 40-40 season in MLB history. |
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| Jul 29 2024 | Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk, a run and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-2 win against the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Ohtani had a three-game multi-hit streak snapped, he extended his streak of contests with a stolen base to three. The slugger has elevated his acumen on the basepaths to even greater heights this season, as he's already set a career high with 27 steals while getting caught just four times. Of course, Ohtani has excelled in other ways as well, slashing .314/.404/.639 with 32 home runs, 76 RBI and 82 runs in what has been an MVP-caliber campaign so far. |
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| Jul 27 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run, an additional RBI, two walks and a stolen base Saturday in a loss to the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani belted another moonshot in the loss, going 443 feet to right field in the third inning. The NL MVP candidate added a run-scoring single in the sixth and reached base four times in total. Ohtani also swiped his 26th base in the contest, tying the career-high mark he established in that category in 2021. The Japanese superstar leads the National League with a .318 batting average and 32 home runs, ranks second with 76 RBI and is in fourth place with 26 steals through 103 games. |
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| Jul 25 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run during Thursday's 6-4 win over the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani and Nick Ahmed hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning off Tyler Rogers to put the Dodgers ahead. The long ball was Ohtani's 31st of the season, a total that trails only Aaron Judge. Since the start of July, Ohtani is 22-for-74 (.297) with five home runs, 12 RBI and 12 runs scored. |
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| Jul 24 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a double, a steal and three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani struck out three times on the evening but made the most of his at-bats with runners on. He doubled home two runs in the fourth and singled home another in the eighth for his first game with three-plus RBI since June 19. He continues to be one of the most feared hitters in the league, slashing .314/.400/.632 with 30 homers, 73 RBI, 78 runs, 24 steals and a 55:102 BB:K in 450 plate appearances. |
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| Jul 22 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Sunday's win over the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was one of five Dodgers who went yard against Kutter Crawford. His fifth-inning blast traveled 473 feet, the second-longest home run ever recorded at Dodger Stadium, and he has seven homers of at least 450 feet this year. Ohtani leads the National League with 30 home runs and has reached that mark in four consecutive seasons. He's slashing .315/.401/.638 with 70 RBI, 78 runs, 23 steals and a 54:97 BB:K in 441 plate appearances. |
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| Jul 13 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 11-9 extra-inning loss to the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani tripled and scored a run in the first inning and hit the 200th home run of his career in the fifth. He later added an RBI groundout in the sixth and then walked, stole second and scored again in the eighth. With one game to go before the All-Star break, the lefty slugger ranks in the top five in baseball in batting average (.314), home runs (29), runs scored (75), and stolen bases (23) while ranking sixth in RBI with 69. |
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| Jul 11 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-3 loss to the Phillies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 30-year-old superstar has swiped six bags in his last six games, pushing him up to 22 steals on the season -- just four shy of his career high. Ohtani has been doing plenty of damage with his bat as well, and since June 16 he's slashing .359/.480/.859 in 98 plate appearances with 11 homers, 21 runs and 22 RBI. |
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| Jul 10 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base Tuesday in a loss to the Phillies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Dodgers were routed in the matchup, so Ohtani got a few innings off after he was pinch-hit for in the seventh inning. Nonetheless, the slugger reached base twice and extended to three a streak of games with at least one steal. Ohtani is putting together an MVP-caliber campaign in his first year with the Dodgers -- he ranks first in the NL in homers (28) and runs (72), and is tied for third in RBI (65) and thefts (21). He also leads the National League and ranks second in MLB with a 1.037 OPS. |
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| Jul 8 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with two stolen bases in a loss to the Brewers on Sunday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani made the most of his lone hit, swiping both second and third base after singling in the third inning. The latter theft gave the slugger 20 steals on the campaign, and with 28 long balls, he is the league's first player to reach the 20-20 mark this season. This is the third time over the past four campaigns that Ohtani has achieved the feat. |
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| Jul 7 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-2 with a home run, a triple, two runs scored and a stolen base in Saturday's 5-3 win over Milwaukee. He also drew two walks and was hit by a pitch. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani drew a leadoff walk in his first trip to the plate before coming home on a Will Smith home run in the following at-bat. The superstar slugger then swiped his 18th bag of the season in the second inning after being hit by a pitch and later added a 430-foot home run of his own to extend the Dodgers' lead to two runs in the eighth. The long ball was his 28th on the campaign, good for second in the majors behind Aaron Judge. |
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| Jul 2 2024 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run, a double and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 6-5 win over the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was a triple shy of the cycle in another impressive game from atop the order. Over his last 20 games, the superstar has slugged 12 homers and driven in 23 runs while batting .351 (26-for-74). He's been outstanding all year and seems to be getting better with his recent performance. Ohtani has a .320/.402/.646 slash line with 27 long balls, 64 RBI, 69 runs scored and 16 stolen bases through 83 contests. |
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| Jun 30 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two runs scored while also drawing two walks in Saturday's extra-innings win over the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani took Spencer Howard deep in the top of the third to give the Dodgers a 2-1 lead and later came around to score for a second time in the 11th after drawing a leadoff walk. The slugger is now up to 12 homers in the month of June, with nine of them coming over his last 12 games. Ohtani has also scored two runs in two of his last three games and has drawn at least one walk in eight straight. |
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| Jun 27 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the White Sox while also drawing two walks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second game in a row, Ohtani crushed a leadoff home run to open the contest, giving the superstar slugger 25 long balls on the season and 11 in the month of June. He's now homered in five of his last six games and has posted at least one RBI in 10 straight, raising his league-leading average to .322 on the campaign. Ohtani has also drawn at least one walk in six consecutive games. |
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| Jun 25 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a homer, a walk, two RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 4-3 win versus the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Dodgers' designated hitter crushed Chris Flexen's fifth pitch of the game 376 feet for a leadoff homer. Ohtani has now batted atop the order eight consecutive games while hitting .419 (13-for-31) with five homers, 14 RBI and 10 runs scored. The Japanese superstar may be on his way to a third MVP campaign as he's slashing .318/.395/.626 with 24 homers, 63 runs scored, 60 RBI and 16 steals over 356 plate appearances this season. |
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| Jun 24 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) played catch from 90 feet Monday, David Vassegh of AM 570 LA Sports reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the first time he's thrown from that distance since last September's Tommy John surgery. Ohtani continues to progress in his rehab with no issues, and he has certainly shown no ill effects at the plate as a result of the recovery. The Dodgers haven't ruled out the possibility of Ohtani playing the outfield at some point in 2024, although that still seems like a long shot. He will continue to serve as the club's designated hitter, with an eye on resuming two-way duties in 2025. |
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| Jun 23 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's win over the Angels while also drawing a walk. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani jumped on a hanging slider from Zach Plesac in the third inning and launched it 459 feet into the stands in right-center field for his 23rd home run of the season. The superstar slugger has now homered in three consecutive games and has collected at least one RBI in seven straight. Over that latter stretch, he's batting .481 (13-for-27) with six homers, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored. |
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| Jun 21 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run and two walks in Friday's 3-2 extra-inning loss to the Angels. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani accounted for four of the seven baserunners the Dodgers had in this contest, though the team's No. 2-through-5 hitters went a combined 0-for-16. Ohtani has logged multiple hits in five of his last six games, and he's swatted five homers with 11 RBI in that span. The superstar is up to a .322/.398/.628 slash line with 22 long balls, 55 RBI, 60 runs scored and 16 stolen bases on 18 attempts through 75 games this year. |
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| Jun 20 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's 5-3 win against the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani began the game with a solo shot to center field for the seventh leadoff home run of his career. The superstar slugger has racked up four homers over his past five contests and has notched nine RBI during that span. Ohtani leads the National League and ranks third in MLB with 21 home runs overall this season. |
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| Jun 18 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run, an additional RBI and two total runs scored in Tuesday's 11-9 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani batted leadoff for the second game in a row, and it looks like that'll be his spot as long as Mookie Betts (wrist) is unavailable. While Betts' absence is a big one for the Dodgers, Ohtani should be plenty capable of filling in atop the order, given his excellent batting skills and his noticeable speed. The 29-year-old has multiple hits in four of his last five games, and he's up to a .316/.388/.608 slash line through 325 plate appearances this season. Ohtani has added 20 homers, 49 RBI, 57 runs scored, 16 stolen bases, 20 doubles and two triples. His RBI numbers may dip, but that should be offset by a slight uptick in crossing the plate himself. |
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| Jun 17 2024 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, an RBI, a stolen base and a walk Monday in a 9-5 victory versus the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Mookie Betts (hand) set to miss several weeks, Ohtani could see most of his work out of the leadoff spot -- he's now slotted in there for both games that Betts has missed so far this season. Ohtani certainly possesses qualities of a leadoff man with a .314 average, .388 OBP and 16 thefts on the campaign, though his power far exceeds what is usually expected from a batter in that role. Ohtani could lose some RBI opportunities with Betts not hitting ahead of him for the foreseeable future, but the Japanese superstar is more than capable of knocking himself in and should continue to get opportunities to score with Will Smith and Freddie Freeman batting behind him. |
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| Jun 16 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two solo home runs during Sunday's 3-0 win over the Royals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani teed off on Brady Singer, tagging the Royals' starter for solo homers in the third and sixth innings for Ohtani's second multi-homer game of 2024. The 29-year-old is now up to 19 home runs on the season, tied for fourth-most in MLB. Ohtani owns a .976 OPS through 278 plate appearances and is the only player in baseball with at least 15 homers and stolen bases. |
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| Jun 13 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to Texas. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani gave the Dodgers an early lead with a 424-foot solo shot in the first inning, but Los Angeles managed only one run the rest of the game. The homer was the second in as many days for the slugger, and he's up to 17 on the campaign, tied for sixth-most in the majors. Ohtani has added 44 RBI, 51 runs, 15 stolen bases and a .311/.383/.587 slash line through 298 plate appearances. |
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| Jun 12 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer, two walks, a steal and three runs scored in Tuesday's 15-2 win over the Rangers. He also reached via a hit by pitch. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani kickstarted a four-homer sixth inning by the Dodgers with a two-run blast off Grant Anderson. He also tallied his 15th steal of the year, becoming the first player in baseball this season to tally 15 home runs and 15 steals. Ohtani continues to be one of the most dangerous hitters in baseball and is now slashing .312/.384/.581 with 16 homers, 43 RBI, 50 runs and a 30:62 BB:K in 294 plate appearances. |
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| Jun 5 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's 10-6 loss to the Pirates. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani plated Mookie Betts in the second inning on a 415-foot homer off Paul Skenes. While Ohtani isn't quite hitting with the power he did a season ago, he owns a .322 batting average -- which would be a career-best if it stands. The 29-year-old is one of nine players with 15 long balls this season and he's also tied for the ninth most stolen bases in MLB at 14. |
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| Jun 4 2024 | Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that it has cleared Ohtani, closed its investigation and considers him "a victim of fraud" at the hands of his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Mizuhara pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud charges Tuesday, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, and MLB considers the mattered settled given the "thoroughness of the federal investigation." Ohtani has continued to produce as an MVP candidate despite the background noise and has 14 home runs, 14 steals and a .322/.392/.596 slash line through 58 games this season. |
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| Jun 2 2024 | Ohtani has reached 80 mph during his throwing program, per MLB.com. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has been throwing since late March and has progressed to a distance of 60 feet. The two-way star won't see any game action as a pitcher this season, so it's logical that the Dodgers will be very cautious in managing his throwing progression. Though he's working only as a batter this season, Ohtani is once again in the MVP discussion with a .326/.395/.604 slash line, 14 home runs, 38 RBI, 41 runs and 14 stolen bases through 57 games. |
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| Jun 1 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani had gone seven games without a steal, and he hit just .167 (5-for-30) over that span. That's a rare cold spell for one of baseball's best players, who continues to do it all out of the No. 2 hole for the Dodgers. He's at a .326/.395/.604 slash line with 14 home runs, 14 steals, 38 RBI and 41 runs scored over 57 contests. |
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| May 30 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in Wednesday's 10-3 win over the Mets. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani knocked a run-scoring single in the fifth inning and capped his performance with a two-run blast in the eighth. The long ball was his first since May 17 and pushed him to 14 on the campaign, eighth-most in the majors. Ohtani has added 38 RBI, 41 runs, 13 stolen bases and a .330/.395/.615 slash line through 248 plate appearances. |
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| May 28 2024 | Ohtani isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Mets, Eric Stephen of SBNation.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Dodgers were planning on giving Ohtani the evening off heading into Tuesday's twin bill, so he'll sit in the dugout after an 0-for-5 performance during Game 1. Will Smith will instead serve as Los Angeles' designated hitter, allowing Austin Barnes to start behind the plate. |
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| May 26 2024 | Ohtani will serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's game against the Reds. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though manager Dave Roberts disclosed after Saturday's 3-1 loss that Ohtani has been managing a bruised hamstring of late, the 29-year-old still served as the Dodgers' DH for all nine innings of the contest, going 1-for-4 with a triple and three strikeouts. According to Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, Ohtani wasn't running at full speed when he legged out the triple, and while the hamstring issue doesn't look as though it'll cost him any starts, it could result in his stolen-base opportunities being more limited in the short term. Ohtani has gone a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen-base attempts through his first 52 games of the season. |
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| May 25 2024 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Saturday that Ohtani has been playing with a bruised right hamstring in recent days, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was hit in the leg by a pickoff throw during the team's last homestand and has been instructed to not exert full effort on the bases for the time being. It has not caused him to miss any games and at this point it doesn't sound like it will, but it's possible Ohtani's stolen base output could be hindered in the short term. |
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| May 22 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, two runs and two steals in Tuesday's loss to the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was one of two Dodger hitters with multiple hits in the game and swiped multiple bases for the third time this year to bring his total up to 13. Ohtani now has nine multi-hit efforts this month and continues to terrorize opposing pitching. He leads the league with a 1.080 OPS and is now slashing .356/.425/.655 with 13 homers, 34 RBI, 39 runs and a 24:42 BB:K in 221 plate appearances. |
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| May 17 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 7-3 win over the Reds. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani reclaimed a share of the major-league lead in homers with his 13th long ball of the year, which came off Frankie Montas in the third inning. Over his last 12 games, Ohtani's slugged six homers with 12 RBI and seven multi-hit efforts. He's slashing an electrifying .358/.426/.676 with 32 RBI, 36 runs scored, 11 stolen bases, 16 doubles and a triple through 204 plate appearances while occupying the No. 2 spot in the Dodgers' stacked lineup. |
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| May 15 2024 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, a double and two RBI in Tuesday's 10-2 win over the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani jumpstarted the scoring for the Dodgers with a towering 446-foot home run in the fourth inning. He later added on some insurance with an RBI double in the seventh. Ohtani continues to be one of the most ferocious hitters in all of baseball, as he leads with 61 hits, a .361 batting average and a 1.107 OPS while tied for second with 12 home runs. |
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| May 13 2024 | Ohtani (back) is serving as the designated hitter and batting second in Monday's game against the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani sat out Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Padres after leaving Saturday's game due to back tightness. The day off seems to have done the trick, and Ohtani is back in action for Monday's series opener. Ohtani has gone 12-for-28 with eight runs, four stolen bases, four home runs and eight RBI in May. |
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| May 12 2024 | Ohtani (back) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's absence from the starting nine was fully expected after he was removed from Saturday's 5-0 win over the Padres following his fourth at-bat of the night due to lower-back tightness. According to ESPN.com, manager Dave Roberts said he had minimal concern about Ohtani's health, but the star designated hitter will nonetheless sit out the series finale in San Diego. The Dodgers are seemingly hopeful that Ohtani can return to the lineup for Monday's series opener in San Francisco. |
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| May 11 2024 | Ohtani was removed from Saturday's game versus the Padres due to back tightness, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said his level of concern regarding the injury is "minimal," but the skipper is leaning toward holding Ohtani out of Sunday's lineup as a precaution. Roberts will wait to see how Ohtani feels Sunday morning before making a final determination. Before exiting Saturday's contest, Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. |
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| May 6 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run, a walk and two stolen bases Monday in a 6-3 victory versus Miami. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Fresh off being named the National League's Player of the Week after posting an absurd .524/.583/.952 slash line over his previous five games, Ohtani crushed a 441-foot, two-run homer in his first at-bat Monday to open the scoring for Los Angeles. He went on to notch his third straight multi-hit game and added a pair of steals for good measure, giving him four thefts over his past four games. It took Ohtani nine games as a Dodger before he hit his first long ball, but he's since gone deep 11 times -- including four times over his past three games -- to take over the major-league lead in that category. He's also tied for second in the majors with 31 runs, tied for sixth with 27 RBI and leads all of baseball with a 1.139 OPS. In addition, Ohtani has nine stolen bases, putting him on the verge of becoming the league's first player with double-digit homers and thefts this season. |
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| May 5 2024 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's win over Atlanta. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani kicked off the bottom of the third with a leadoff home run, jumping on a hanging four-seamer from Bryce Elder to give the Dodgers a 3-0 lead. The superstar slugger also drove in a second run on a single in the fourth and finished the contest with three hits for the fourth time this season. Ohtani has now driven in at least one run in eight of his last 11 games, and he extended his hitting streak to four games with Saturday's performance. |
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| May 4 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a run, an RBI, two walks and two stolen bases Friday in a 4-3 extra-innings victory versus Atlanta. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's first theft came in the third inning, and it led to Los Angeles' first run, as Will Smith followed with a two-out RBI single. It looked like Ohtani would be picked off in the eighth frame, but Matt Olson mishandled the throw to first base, allowing the Japanese superstar to make to second base safely. Ohtani later came up with a huge hit in the bottom of the 10th, stroking a one-out single to center field to plate the tying run after Atlanta had scored in the top of the frame. Ohtani continues to put up big numbers for the Dodgers and for his fantasy managers, as he's slashing .336/.405/.612 with seven homers, 20 RBI, 26 runs and seven steals (in seven attempts) through 153 plate appearances. |
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| May 1 2024 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It hasn't been reported that Ohtani is dealing with any type of injury, so he's presumably just receiving his first rest day of the season. Ohtani still has a 1.017 OPS on the campaign but has gone 5-for-26 over the past six games, and Thursday's team off day will provide a chance for two straight days to reset. Will Smith will rest his legs as the designated hitter while Austin Barnes starts behind the plate. |
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| Apr 24 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Washington. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani capped the scoring in the contest with a 450-foot solo blast to right-center field. Per MLB.com, the homer was hit at 118.7 mph, making it the hardest-hit ball in the majors so far this season. It also extended Ohtani's hitting streak to eight games, during which he is slashing .414/.514/.655 with two long balls, four RBI, seven runs, three steals and a 6:6 BB:K. |
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| Apr 22 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk in Sunday's win over the Mets. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani opened up the scoring with a two-run blast off Adrian Houser in the third inning for his first round tripper since April 12. Ohtani has notched at least one hit in all but three games so far this season. He's slashing .368/.431/.663 with five homers, 13 RBI, 19 runs and a 12:20 BB:K in 109 plate appearances. Ohtani currently leads MLB with a .368 average and 63 total bases. |
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| Apr 16 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with two runs and a stolen base Monday in a loss to the Nationals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani extended his on-base streak to 15 games with a first-inning single that led to the Dodgers' first run. The slugger also reached on catcher's interference in the sixth frame, and he subsequently stole second base, reached third on a wild pitch and scored the team's second run on a Will Smith groundout. Ohtani is giving the Dodgers consistent offensive production out of the No. 2 slot in the lineup, slashing .338/.384/.648 with four homers, 10 RBI, 15 runs and three stolen bases through 86 plate appearances. |
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| Apr 14 2024 | Ohtani went 0-for-2 with two walks, an RBI and a stolen base in a 5-2 win against the Padres on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani had his eight-game hitting streak snapped Saturday, but he still reached base twice and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. The slugger added to his fantasy output with his second theft of the campaign. Ohtani hasn't had much difficulty adjusting to the National League, slashing .343/.392/.686 with four home runs, 10 RBI, 13 runs and a 7:14 BB:K through 79 plate appearances. |
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| Apr 12 2024 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a double in Friday's loss to the Padres. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani opened the scoring for the Dodgers on Friday night, crushing a 403-foot homer to center off Michael King in the first inning. With his three-hit evening, the Dodgers designated hitter extended his current hitting streak to eight games. Ohtani is showing no ill effects from his offseason elbow surgery at the plate, slashing .353/.392/.706 over 74 plate appearances. |
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| Apr 11 2024 | U.S. Attorney for the Central Disctrict of California Martin Estrada said Thursday that Ohtani is considered a victim in the bank fraud case involving his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Estrada, in announcing a federal criminal complaint against Mizuhara, said that Ohtani is cooperating "fully and completely" in the investigation, providing interviews and access to digital devices. The criminal complaint alleges Mizuhara stole north of $16 million from Ohtani to pay for his illegal betting, much more than first reported. Mizuhara allegedly impersonated Ohtani to the bank and admitted to stealing from Ohtani in texts. Major League Baseball has opened a formal investigation into the matter, while Ohtani remains active as the everyday designated hitter for the Dodgers. |
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| Apr 9 2024 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, two doubles and an additional run scored in Monday's win against the Twins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has now generated multiple hits in each of his last five games, racking up three homers and seven runs scored with a .500 batting average. Sandwiched between Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman in the Dodgers' batting order on most nights, Ohtani could be in line for a career year at the plate. |
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| Apr 5 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-7 loss to the Cubs. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani cut the Dodgers' deficit to 6-4 with a two-run blast off Kyle Hendricks that just stayed inside the right-field foul pole. After going eight games without a long ball to start his Dodgers tenure, Ohtani has now homered in back-to-back games. He's now 12-for-42 with six RBI, nine runs scored and a stolen base so far this season. |
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| Apr 4 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in a 5-4 win against the Giants on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani had gone homerless over his first eight games with Los Angeles before smashing a 430-foot solo shot in the seventh inning Wednesday to supply his team with a critical insurance run. It was the two-way star's fourth extra-base hit among his 10 total knocks this season, and the long ball produced his fourth RBI. Though he hasn't come blazing out of the gates in his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani has slashed a respectable .270/.317/.432 and has benefitted from the club's robust offense by scoring seven runs through nine games. |
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| Apr 3 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) has been throwing every other day, and he made 50 throws from approximately 60 feet on flat ground Monday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was cleared to begin a throwing program in late March, and he's been engaging in an every-other-day program as he begins to build his arm back up following last September's Tommy John surgery. The two-way star won't pitch this season, but he's expected to be a part of the Dodgers' rotation next year, and he reportedly could see some time in the outfield or at first base later in the current campaign if the organization is comfortable with his rehab progress. Ohtani will stick to being the team's everyday DH in the meantime, though he's off to a slow start with a .242/.297/.333 slash line and no homers through 37 plate appearances. |
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| Mar 25 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) played catch Monday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last September, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was spotted throwing in the outfield following a scheduled press conference Monday afternoon to address the formal investigation into the matter involving his former interpreter, Ippei Mizuhari, where Ohtani denied knowledge of Mizuhari using his money to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker and voiced his full cooperation with the investigation, per Sportsnet LA. "I never bet on baseball or any other sports, or never have asked somebody to do it on my behalf," said Ohtani. "And I have never went through a bookmaker to bet on sports. Up until a couple days ago, I didn't know this was happening." As for Ohtani's rehab from elbow surgery, the team previously indicated that he'd begin a throwing program upon returning to Los Angeles, and if all goes well, he could have an outside shot to play in the outfield or at first base later in the season. |
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| Mar 22 2024 | Major League Baseball issued a statement Friday announcing that its Department of Investigations has begun the formal process of investigating the matter involving Ohtani and his longtime interpreter. "Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhari from the news media. Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter." | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's interpreter was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday and Ohtani's camp is accusing Mizuhara of using the player's money to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker. While it was reported Thursday that Ohtani was not under investigation by the league, the commissioner's office has since decided this matter warrants investigation. There is a lot about the situation that is uncertain and that uncertainty will likely alter Ohtani's fantasy draft positioning over the rest of March. |
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| Mar 21 2024 | Ohtani is not currently facing discipline nor is he believed to be under active investigation by the league in relation to his longtime interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, being fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following accusations of "massive theft," Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's camp is accusing Mizuhara of using the player's money to place bets with an allegedly illegal bookmaker under federal investigation. It's a strange and developing situation -- one that could affect Ohtani's fantasy draft position this weekend -- though Ohtani is playing Thursday in the second game of the Seoul Series against the Padres as expected. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman declined to comment on the matter before the game. |
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| Mar 20 2024 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base in the Dodgers' 5-2 victory over San Diego in South Korea on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani's first plate appearance as a Dodger ended anticlimactically with a fielder's choice grounder, but the team's free-agent prize made an impact later in the contest, singling and stealing a base in the third inning and driving home a run with another single in the eighth. There should be plenty of opportunities for the slugger to produce this season while batting second in the order between Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, and Wednesday's game suggested that he won't be held back on the bases when he gets onboard. Ohtani swiped 20 or more bags in two of the past three seasons and is a good candidate to reach that mark again this year. |
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| Mar 18 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) is set to begin a throwing progression when the Dodgers return to Los Angeles this weekend following their two-game, season-opening series in South Korea versus the Padres on Wednesday and Thursday, and manager Dave Roberts hasn't ruled out the possibility of Ohtani (elbow) playing the field later in the 2024 campaign, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Roberts reiterated Monday that Ohtani's sole focus for now is serving as the Dodgers' full-time designated hitter, and whether the 29-year-old could be used in the outfield or at first base at some point later in the season will depend on how his throwing program comes along. Ohtani hasn't seen playing time in the outfield with any regularity since 2014 while he was still in Japan, so the idea that he could be used in left field or right field less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery seems far-fetched, at best. Still, it's interesting that the possibility hasn't been totally nixed. |
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| Feb 27 2024 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 9-6 Cactus League win against the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani logged his first appearance as a Dodger and his first game action since undergoing elbow surgery last September. The two-way star's first at-bat was anticlimactic, as he struck out looking on three pitches, and he subsequently grounded into a double play in his second trip to the plate. However, Ohtani didn't disappoint in his final plate appearance, lofting an opposite-field homer off Dominic Leone in the fifth frame. With Ohtani now taking part in Cactus League contests, there should be no doubt that he'll be ready to play when the Dodgers kick off the regular season in South Korea on March 20. |
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| Feb 25 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Tuesday against the White Sox, Patrick Lyons of TheDNVR.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani didn't appear in the first few games of spring training as he eased into action following right elbow surgery, but he'll make his first appearance in a Dodgers uniform Tuesday. Although the team will likely exercise caution with the 29-year-old as he prepares for a role as a designated hitter to begin the 2024 season, he'll have just over three weeks to prepare before the Dodgers open the campaign against the Padres in South Korea on March 20. |
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| Feb 22 2024 | Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Ohtani (elbow) could make his Cactus League debut next week, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Ohtani will be held out of game action through the weekend as he eases into things following right elbow surgery, his spring debut isn't far off. It would still give the designated hitter about three weeks of game action ahead of the Dodgers' March 20-21 series in South Korea against the Padres. |
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| Feb 19 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) will take live batting practice Monday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There seems to have been some confusion over the last few days as to when Ohtani was taking live BP, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has confirmed that it will be Monday. It will be the first time Ohtani has faced live pitching since he underwent surgery on his right elbow in September. |
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| Feb 18 2024 | Ohtani was originally scheduled to take live batting practice Sunday, but he won't do so after all, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ardaya reported earlier Sunday that Ohtani would be facing Michael Grove in a live batting practice session, but that plan has apparently been scrapped. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts insisted that the change of direction has nothing to do with Ohanti's health and suggested that the slugger is simply being given the freedom to direct his own schedule. Ohtani has been taking normal batting practice and may do so again Sunday, per Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times. |
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| Feb 16 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled to take live batting practice next week, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It had been reported that Ohtani would take live BP on Friday, but evidently that was a scheduling snafu. The superstar slugger has been hitting this week without restrictions and is almost ready to face live pitching for the first time since the internal brace procedure on his right elbow. |
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| Feb 15 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) will take part in live batting practice "soon," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has already been hitting on the field this week without any limitations. There is no set timetable for when he will appear in Cactus League action as a designated hitter, but it shouldn't be too deep into the schedule. Ohtani is expected to be ready to serve as the Dodgers' DH for their March 20-21 series in South Korea against the Padres. |
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| Feb 12 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) will hit on the field Monday for the first time since he underwent an internal brace procedure in September, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani said last week that he's been swinging the bat at around 100 percent effort and he'll now get to test things out against live pitching. The Dodgers plan to ease Ohtani into workouts during spring training, but the full expectation is that he'll be ready to serve as the designated hitter when the club opens up its season March 20 in South Korea. Per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com, manager Dave Roberts said at the Dodgers' Feb. 3 Fan Fest event that he has penciled Ohtani in as the team's No. 3 hitter during the upcoming season. |
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| Feb 9 2024 | Ohtani (elbow) told reporters Friday that he's swinging the bat at around 100 percent effort, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The next step for Ohtani as he works his way back from right elbow surgery is to either face live pitching or hitting off a high-velocity pitching machine. The Dodgers will ease the superstar into things this spring, but he's fully expected to be ready to serve as the designated hitter Opening Day. Ohtani will not be ready to pitch again until 2025. |
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| Feb 3 2024 | General manager Brandon Gomes said Ohtani will be "somewhat limited" to begin spring training, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani underwent elbow surgery in September and has yet to resume throwing -- although he isn't expected to pitch again until 2025. The two-way superstar has resumed hitting drills, however, and he should be ready to serve as the Dodgers' DH without restrictions by Opening Day. |
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| Dec 9 2023 | Ohtani (elbow) announced Saturday via his personal Instagram account that he will be signing with the Dodgers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Blue Jays were rumored to be the frontrunners for Ohtani's services, but the two-way superstar will instead swap Los Angeles teams on what his agents are announcing as a 10-year, $700 million deal, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. Ohtani underwent elbow surgery in September that will prevent him from pitching next season, but he'll settle in as a full-time designated hitter for the Dodgers and immediately becomes arguably the biggest threat in a lineup that also features Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts. |
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| Dec 8 2023 | Ohtani (elbow) is expected to sign with the Blue Jays, JP Hoornstra of DodgerNation.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Meanwhile, Ben Nicholson-Smith and Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca report that Ohtani has not made his decision yet, and there's no timeline for when the two-way superstar will determine his landing spot in free agency. The momentum at least seems to be in Toronto's corner at the moment, but perhaps it's not a done deal just yet. Per Hoornstra, the Dodgers and Angels were the other two finalists for Ohtani along with the Blue Jays. |
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| Sep 19 2023 | Ohtani underwent surgery on his right elbow Tuesday, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 of which represent 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. |
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| Sep 16 2023 | Ohtani was placed on the injured list with an oblique strain Saturday, ending his season, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 15 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) is out of the lineup Friday against the Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 13 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game in Seattle, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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, perhaps the team will consider shutting him down. The two-way superstar is dealing with a torn UCL in his right elbow in addition to the oblique issue. |
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| Sep 12 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) isn't in the Angels' lineup Tuesday against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 11 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) has been scratched from Monday's game against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. The star two-way player didn't feel right when taking swings in the batting cage, so the club will push his return back by at least one day, per Bollinger. Mike Moustakas will take his place in the DH slot and hit fourth. |
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| Sep 10 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Guardians, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 9 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) will sit for a sixth straight game Saturday against Cleveland, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 8 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) isn't in the Angels' lineup Friday against the Guardians, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 7 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) is not in Thursday's lineup against the Guardians, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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." |
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| Sep 6 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) isn't in the Angels' lineup Wednesday against the Orioles. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 5 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) will sit out Tuesday's game against the Orioles, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 eliminated any opportunity for the two-way phenom 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. |
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| Sep 4 2023 | Ohtani (oblique) will undergo further testing Tuesday morning, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 30 2023 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Phillies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 26 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 25 2023 | Ohtani is started at designated hitter and batting second in Friday's game versus the Mets, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 23 2023 | Ohtani has a torn UCL and will not pitch again in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: No decision has been made yet on whether Ohtani will need Tommy John surgery to repair his 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. |
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| Aug 19 2023 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and two runs scored in Friday's loss to the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 18 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 16 2023 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday in a 2-0 victory versus Texas. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 14 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 in 12 games in August. Ohtani leads the American League with 41 home runs now and trails only the surging Matt Olson for the MLB 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 and 14 runs. |
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| Aug 13 2023 | Ohtani won't make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 9 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 7 2023 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 8-3 loss to the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 6 2023 | Ohtani has been cleared 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 as a pitcher Thursday against Seattle. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There had been some doubt on the part of both Ohtani and the team about whether he would 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' designated hitter on Thursday despite being pulled from the mound after the fourth inning. He has started at DH in both games since. |
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| Aug 4 2023 | Ohtani (hand) is serving as the designated hitter and batting second Friday versus the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 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. |
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| Aug 3 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 2 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Tuesday's 5-1 loss to Atlanta. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 29 2023 | Ohtani (calves) will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and bat second Saturday against Toronto, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani has exited early in both of the Angels' last two games, the first time due to cramping in his back and the second time due to cramping in both of his calves. After being re-evaluated Saturday, Ohtani looks like he'll be able to stay in the lineup and serve in his usual DH role, though the Angels will likely keep a close eye on him to ensure his recent cramping doesn't develop into a lingering issue. The two-way star has gone 5-for-18 with four homers, five RBI and seven runs scored in his last five games while also tossing a one-hit shutout during that stretch. |
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| Jul 28 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 27 2023 | Ohtani (cramping) is expected to be in the lineup to serve as the designated hitter Friday against Blue Jays, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 26 2023 | The Angels took Ohtani off the trade market Wednesday, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 24 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and a walk in Sunday's 7-5 win over Pittsburgh. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 21 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 20 2023 | Ohtani is scheduled to make his next start as a pitcher Friday against the Pirates at Angel Stadium, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 either, 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. |
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| Jul 17 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 15 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 13-12 extra-inning win over the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 14 2023 | Ohtani left his start on the mound Friday against the Astros with a trainer in the top of the sixth inning, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 from the mound 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 Friday. Ohtani allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out seven over five innings. |
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| Jul 8 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 5 2023 | Ohtani (finger) is in the Angels' lineup Wednesday in San Diego, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 4 2023 | Ohtani was removed from Tuesday's start against the Padres due to a blister on his right middle finger. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 2 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 1 2023 | Ohtani (fingernail) will start Tuesday's game against the Padres, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 30 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Thursday's loss to the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The two-way superstar made things interesting in the ninth inning, cutting the deficit to 9-7 with a two-out, two-run shot off Kendall Graveman, but the Angels got no closer. It's Ohtani's 14th homer in 26 games this month, boosting his league-leading total to 29. The long ball also extended his hit streak to seven games, and he's gone 14-for-30 (.467) with a 1.663 OPS in that span. Ohtani is on pace for a career season at the plate, even by his standards -- he's slashing .309/.392/.666 with 66 RBI, 58 runs scored and 11 steals through 360 plate appearances. |
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| Jun 28 2023 | Ohtani is still scheduled to start Monday against the Padres despite his cracked fingernail, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 27 2023 | Ohtani left Tuesday's start versus against the White Sox with a trainer, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports. He allowed one run in 6.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and two walks before leaving. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Ohtani is no longer on the mound, Weston reports that it looks like he'll stay in to hit as the designated hitter. Jacob Webb has taken over for Ohtani on the mound. |
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| Jun 26 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 23 2023 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a double in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 21 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 19 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-2 win against Kansas City. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 18 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's loss to the Royals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 15 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 13 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 10 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 9 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 7 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a double, two stolen bases and a walk in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Cubs. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 6 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 3 2023 | Ohtani went 4-for-5 with a double, a triple two runs and two RBI in Saturday's loss to the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 2 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 31 2023 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two homers, three runs scored and four RBI in Tuesday's 12-5 win over the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 27 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 24 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's victory over the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 21 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 20 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Twins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 19 2023 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and an additional RBI against the Orioles in a 6-5 win Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 16 2023 | Ohtani (neck) is in the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game in Baltimore. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 15 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 11 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a loss to Houston on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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). |
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| May 9 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 3 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 2 2023 | Ohtani is absent from the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game in St. Louis. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a rare day off for the two-way superstar. Ohtani is slated to serve as the starting pitcher Wednesday and presumably will be in the lineup at designated hitter, as well. |
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| May 1 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk Sunday in a 3-0 win against the Brewers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 30 2023 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a pair of stolen bases in Saturday's loss to the Brewers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 27 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 5 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 4 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Monday in a 7-3 win over the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 3 2023 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-0 win over the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 31 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was a bit wild in the season opener, throwing only 55 of his 93 pitches for strikes. Aside from that, the two-way star was as dominant as ever, racking up 13 swinging strikes en route to his 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 with the Angels in 2022. |
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| Mar 20 2023 | Ohtani could pitch in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic against Team USA if Team Japan advances to the final, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 13 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 9 2023 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 1 2023 | Ohtani is in Japan to prepare for the World Baseball Classic, Ben Verlander of Fox Sports reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 16 2023 | Ohtani has been named the Angels' Opening Day starter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 15 2023 | Ohtani will make his only Cactus League start of 2023 on March 1 against the Brewers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Dec 6 2022 | Manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani will pitch every sixth day as much as possible in 2023, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 in 2023, Ohtani should be able to top that workload while pitching every sixth day, which would only further add to his value as one of the best hitters and pitchers in the league. |
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| Oct 5 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Oct 1 2022 | Ohtani and the Angels agreed to a one-year, $30 million deal Saturday, avoiding arbitration for next season. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 29 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 24 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 that affected the playing field all night. 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 start, which is expected to come against the Rangers. |
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| Sep 22 2022 | Ohtani isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 18 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. Ohtani is currently projected to take the mound again next weekend in Minnesota. |
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| Sep 12 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 11 2022 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, two RBI and one run scored in Sunday's loss versus the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 10 2022 | Ohtani left Saturday's game against the Astros as a pitcher due to a blister on his right index finger. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 5 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 4 2022 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 3 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 31 2022 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 30 2022 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 4-3 victory versus the Yankees on Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 28 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 23 2022 | Ohtani (illness) will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and No. 3 batter in Tuesday's game against the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 22 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 21 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 18 2022 | Ohtani went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run, a triple and two RBI in Wednesday's loss to the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 Fletcher 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. |
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| Aug 15 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 13 2022 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-3 extra-innings win over the Twins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 9 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 8 2022 | Ohtani isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Athletics, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 5 2022 | Ohtani (forearm) went 3-for-5 with a pair of solo home runs in Thursday's 8-7 loss to the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 4 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 3 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 31 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 30 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 28 2022 | Ohtani (9-6) allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out 11 in six innings, taking the loss Thursday versus the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 26 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 25 2022 | Ohtani suffered a bruise above his knee during Monday's game against the Royals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 24 2022 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to Atlanta. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 23 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 19 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 13 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 9 2022 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Orioles. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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, but Baltimore stormed back for three runs and a walkoff 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. |
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| Jul 7 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. 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. |
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| Jul 6 2022 | Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Marlins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 2 2022 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 30 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 innings. |
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| Jun 28 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 25 2022 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 22 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 22 2022 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with two home runs and eight RBI in Tuesday's 12-11 extra-innings loss to the Royals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 17 2022 | Ohtani will hit the bench Friday against the Mariners, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 16 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 12 2022 | Ohtani is not in the lineup Sunday against the Mets, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 11 2022 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three runs and three RBI in a 11-6 win against the Mets on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 .286 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. |
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| Jun 10 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 2 2022 | Ohtani is serving as the designated hitter in the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 29 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 28 2022 | Ohtani (back) will bat second and serve as the designated hitter Saturday against the Blue Jays, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 27 2022 | Ohtani (back) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Blue Jays, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was removed from Thursday's game against Toronto due to back stiffness and will be held out of the starting nine for at least one contest. According to Bollinger, it's not believed to be a serious injury, and the two-way star is available to pinch hit and is expected to make his next start on the mound. Taylor Ward, who has sat out the past five games with a shoulder issue, will bat leadoff as the designated hitter Friday. |
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| May 26 2022 | Ohtani exited Thursday's game against the Blue Jays due to back stiffness, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 23 2022 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run Sunday in the Angels' 4-1 win over the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 21 2022 | Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a run, a walk, a stolen base and three strikeouts in Friday's loss to Oakland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 18 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 16 2022 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in Sunday's 4-1 win over Oakland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 15 2022 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader against Oakland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 12 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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, as the two-way superstar continues to display a skill set like no other. |
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| May 10 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 5 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 while generating 29 swinging strikes. He also displayed his prowess at the plate, ripping an RBI-single off the Green Monster during the Angels' five-run eighth inning. |
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| May 3 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 optimistic Ohtani will be able to make a start as a pitcher during Thursday's series finale in Boston, according to Fletcher. |
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| May 2 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. The Angels haven't decided when Ohtani will make his next start as a pitcher, but manager Joe Maddon suggested he hopes the right-hander will be ready to take the mound during the team's upcoming series in Boston, according to Fletcher. Patrick Sandoval is already locked in as the starter for Tuesday's series opener, but Ohtani could be an option for Wednesday or Thursday. |
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| May 1 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 25 2022 | Ohtani will hit second as the designated hitter Monday against the Guardians, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 21 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 16 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 15 2022 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two homers and three RBI in Friday's 9-6 win over Texas. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 14 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 12 2022 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a run and a stolen base in Monday's 6-2 victory versus Miami. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 8 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The two-way star 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 as the Angels' offense had little success on the night. Ohtani contributed to those struggles with an 0-for-4 performance from the leadoff spot. He went 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA last season in addition to his massive numbers at the plate, and he'll aim to earn his first win on the season when he faces the Rangers on the road next week. |
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| Mar 27 2022 | Ohtani will serve as the Angels' leadoff hitter to begin the regular season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 26 2022 | Ohtani will make his next Cactus League start Thursday against Milwaukee, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 25 2022 | Ohtani was officially named the Angels' Opening Day starter Friday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 April 7 and then likely the Rangers in Texas a week later, with the Angels again expected to use a six-man rotation. |
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| Mar 22 2022 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 20 2022 | Angels manager Joe Maddon said Saturday that Ohtani could be the team's leadoff hitter this year, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 19 2022 | Ohtani will pitch in his first Cactus League game of the spring Monday against Kansas City, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 16 2022 | Ohtani tossed his first live batting practice of spring training Wednesday, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Nov 18 2021 | Ohtani was named the 2021 American League MVP on Thursday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Oct 4 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two walks in Sunday's 7-6 win over the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 slash line, including 46 home runs, 100 RBI, 103 runs and 26 steals in 639 plate appearances. |
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| Sep 30 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two stolen bases and a run Wednesday in the Angels' 7-2 win over the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 29 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 Wednesday and is slated to remain in the lineup through the rest of the week. |
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| Sep 26 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 25 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani tripled in runs in the first and third innings, and walked in a run in the third before walking and scoring in the fifth. The 27-year-old has been taking what's been given of late with 13 walks over his last four games and a .750 OBP in that stretch to contribute to a .227/.416/.418 line in September. |
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| Sep 24 2021 | Ohtani went 0-for-1 with three walks, a run and a stolen base in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 23 2021 | Ohtani went 0-for-2 with four walks in Wednesday's loss to Houston. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 contributed to his career-high 13.6 percent walk rate. |
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| Sep 21 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Tuesday's 10-5 loss to the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 20 2021 | Ohtani will likely make one more start on the mound this season, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 19 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 17 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 16 2021 | Ohtani is starting Thursday's game against the White Sox as the designated hitter. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani is dealing with some arm soreness after he played catch Wednesday, and he'll be unable to make his scheduled start on the mound 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. |
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| Sep 15 2021 | Ohtani is expected to start at home versus Oakland on Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 10 2021 | Ohtani (9-2) allowed six earned runs on nine hits while striking out one across 3.1 innings, taking the loss to the Astros on Friday. He went 1-for-1 with a solo home run and two walks at the plate. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 6 2021 | Ohtani went 0-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base Sunday in a loss to the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 4 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and was caught stealing in a 4-1 win over Texas on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 1 2021 | Ohtani (hand/wrist) will serve as the starting pitcher Friday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. He'll bat second in Wednesday's series finale against the Yankees. |
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| Aug 31 2021 | Ohtani (hand) went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's game 8-7 win over the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. The solo blast allowed Ohtani to hit the 90-RBI mark, 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 when he'll be able to make his next start as a pitcher after he was scratched from his scheduled turn through the rotation Tuesday while he manages a sore right wrist. While X-rays came back negative after he was struck by a pitch Saturday, the Angels surely won't take any risks with Ohtani in September if he's less than fully healthy. The injury doesn't look to be anything that would result in him being shut down as the Angels' everyday designated hitter, however. |
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| Aug 30 2021 | 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 still bat second as the designated hitter Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 beyond Tuesday. Ohtani should continue to provide plenty of value at the plate, but it remains to be seen when he'll get back on the mound. |
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| Aug 28 2021 | Ohtani had X-rays on his right hand/wrist come back negative after being hit by a pitch Saturday versus the Padres, and he remains on track to pitch Tuesday against the Yankees, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 steal 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 versus New York before taking the mound Tuesday. |
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| Aug 27 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and two walks in Thursday's loss to the Orioles. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 25 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 22 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-2 with two walks, a stolen base and a strikeout as the Angels fell 3-0 to Cleveland on Sunday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 20 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two walks, two runs and an RBI in Thursday's win over the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 19 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 18 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with three walks, a run and a stolen base in Tuesday's 8-2 victory over the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 14 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a stolen base Saturday in a loss to the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 12 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 8 2021 | Ohtani is out of the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 7 2021 | Ohtani will be available off the bench for Saturday's game against the Dodgers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 4 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 3 2021 | Ohtani will make his next start Wednesday at Texas, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 1 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 31 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 30 2021 | Ohtani won't start Sunday's game against Oakland due to a sore thumb, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 29 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, two walks, and two runs scored in Wednesday's 8-7 win over the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani reached base in all but one plate appearance Wednesday, starting with a base knock in the first. He came around to score that inning to give the Angels their first run of the game. The 26-year-old then delivered his league-best 37th home run in the fourth. Ohtani has an extra-base hit in four of his last five games and has seven RBI over that span. He's slashing .280/.367/.591 with 37 homers, 81 RBI, 72 runs scored, 14 steals and 45:119 BB:K over 392 plate appearances. |
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| Jul 28 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 27 2021 | 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 an RBI, a steal and a run scored. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 25 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and a stolen base in Sunday's 6-2 win over the Twins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani slammed a solo home shot off Danny Coulombe in the sixth inning, giving the Angels a one-run lead. In addition, he stole second base in the eighth inning. It was his fourth game with a homer and a steal this season. The 26-year-old is slashing .227/.362/.684 in 378 plate appearances. He leads all of baseball with 35 long balls. |
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| Jul 24 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with two doubles in Saturday night's 2-1 win over the Twins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 23 2021 | Ohtani is not in the lineup Friday against the Twins, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 20 2021 | Ohtani allowed three hits and a walk while striking out eight over six scoreless innings Monday in a no-decision against the Athletics. He also went 1-for-4 with a double. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani traded zeroes on the scoreboard with opposing starter Cole Irvin for six innings. His brilliant effort 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 notched 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 he tentatively lines up for a favorable matchup against the Rockies at the beginning of next week. |
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| Jul 18 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a pair of walks Sunday against Seattle. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 12 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's 7-1 win over the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 10 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to Seattle. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 7 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 6 2021 | Ohtani is batting second as the starting pitcher Tuesday against the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 5 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Orioles. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 4 2021 | Ohtani went 0-for-2 with three walks and a run scored in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Orioles. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Although Ohtani didn't have a hit in this game, he was still very productive, reaching base three times. He is the hottest hitter in the game 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. |
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| Jul 2 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 1 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 12.4 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. |
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| Jun 30 2021 | Ohtani is leading off as the starting pitcher Wednesday against the Yankees, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 29 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with two home runs and three RBI during Tuesday's 11-5 loss to the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 28 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a solo homer in Monday's 5-3 win over the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 27 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 25 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in Friday's loss to the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 23 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 21 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk Sunday in the Angels' 5-3 loss to the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 20 2021 | Ohtani will make his next start on the mound Wednesday against the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 19 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk in Saturday's 8-3 win over Detroit. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 18 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 17 2021 | Ohtani will bat second and serve as the designated hitter Thursday against the Tigers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 a 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. |
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| Jun 16 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in Wednesday's 8-4 loss to the A's. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 13 2021 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 12 2021 | Ohtani will not be in the lineup for Saturday's game against Arizona, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 11 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 9 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 Angels in RBI (44), runs (40) and stolen bases (nine). 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. |
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| Jun 8 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 7 2021 | Ohtani went 0-for-2 with three walks, a stolen base and a run in Sunday's loss to Seattle. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 5 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 4 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 1 2021 | Ohtani is sitting for the second consecutive game in San Francisco, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 31 2021 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 29 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 28 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 27 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 26 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run and a pair of walks in Tuesday's victory over Texas. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 25 2021 | Ohtani will take the mound Thursday against the Athletics, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 23 2021 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 22 2021 | Ohtani is tentatively scheduled to pitch Friday against the A's, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 20 2021 | Ohtani isn't starting Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Twins, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 19 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to Cleveland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani hit a no-doubter, 440-foot homer in the first inning for his fourth long ball 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 while dazzling on the mound once a week. The Angels will likely need him to produce even more after the team placed Mike Trout on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with a calf strain, which is expected to keep him out 6-to-8 weeks. The two-way sensation is slashing .271/.323/.632 with 33 RBI and 32 runs scored, and he's just outside the top 10 among all qualified hitters with a .956 OPS. |
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| May 17 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, two walks and two runs scored in Monday's 7-4 win over Cleveland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 16 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run and a strikeout in Sunday's 6-5 win over the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 14 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Red Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 11 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 6 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's loss to the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 5 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 4 2021 | Ohtani (elbow) is scheduled is scheduled to be the Angels' starting pitcher Wednesday against the Rays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 3 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and a double in Monday's 7-3 loss to the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 2 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 1 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's loss to Seattle. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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, three steals, 18 runs and 19 RBI. |
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| Apr 27 2021 | Ohtani (blister) is starting at designated hitter and batting second Tuesday against the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He exited Monday's start with a minor blister but reportedly was already petitioning to be in the lineup the next day, and he will get his wish. The two-way legend has totaled seven home runs, 17 runs, 18 RBI and three steals while batting .300 over 85 plate appearances. |
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| Apr 26 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 24 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 16-2 loss to the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 23 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with an RBI double and a stolen base in Friday's 5-4 loss to Houston. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 21 2021 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 7-4 loss to the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 19 2021 | Ohtani (blister) will be limited to around 75 pitches during Tuesday's start against the Rangers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 18 2021 | Ohtani (blister) is listed as the Angels' probable starter for Tuesday's game against the Rangers, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 year. |
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| Apr 17 2021 | Manager Joe Maddon said Ohtani (blister) could start as early as Tuesday against the Rangers without needing another bullpen session, Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 16 2021 | Ohtani will throw a side session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 14 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 13 2021 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Royals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 12 2021 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored in Monday's win over the Royals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 11 2021 | The Angels plan to have Ohtani complete 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 10 2021 | Ohtani (finger) could throw a bullpen session Monday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 9 2021 | Ohtani (finger) went 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI in Friday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 8 2021 | Ohtani will not make his next start Sunday against Toronto due to a blister, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 6 2021 | Ohtani (ankle) will bat second as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 contest anyway and wasn't dealing with any serious injury. He got a bit of rest Monday, though he did appear as a pinch hitter, reaching base after getting struck by a pitch. He'll be involved from the start Tuesday and shouldn't face any restrictions going forward. |
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| Apr 5 2021 | Ohtani (ankle) will be available to hit off the bench Monday night against the Astros, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 4 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 3 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 30 2021 | Ohtani (finger) will bat second as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Dodgers, source reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 29 2021 | The Angels confirmed that Ohtani left Monday's start with a blister on his right hand, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 25 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 21 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 15 2021 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo home runs in Monday's Cactus League loss to Cincinnati. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 14 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 San Diego -- could help ease concerns about the oft-injured hurler. |
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| Mar 5 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 27 2021 | Ohtani's fastball reached 100 mph in his bullpen session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 24 2021 | Ohtani said his fastball reached 97 mph during Wednesday's live batting practice session, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 20 2021 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 18 2021 | Ohtani threw a 27-pitch bullpen session Thursday, topping out at 90 mph, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 16 2021 | Ohtani will enter camp as a full two-way player, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 8 2021 | Ohtani and the Angels avoided arbitration for this year and the next by agreeing to a two-year, $8.5 million contract Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Dec 18 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Nov 6 2020 | Ohtani has been throwing for approximately a month and has reached 120 feet, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 25 2020 | Ohtani is not starting Friday against the Dodgers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 23 2020 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's 5-2 win over San Diego. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 22 2020 | Ohtani isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Padres. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 19 2020 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 18 2020 | Ohtani isn't in Friday's lineup against the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 17 2020 | Ohtani is out of the lineup Thursday against the Diamondback, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 26-year-old finds himself on the bench for the fifth straight game as the Angels face another left-hander in Alex Young. Lefty Wes Benjamin is scheduled to start Friday for Texas, so Ohtani could be held out once again. Albert Pujols is batting fifth as the designated hitter again Thursday. |
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| Sep 16 2020 | Ohtani isn't in Wednesday's lineup against the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 15 2020 | Ohtani isn't in Tuesday's lineup against the Diamondbacks. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 13 2020 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 12 2020 | Ohtani is not starting Saturday against lefty Kyle Freeland and the Rockies, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 10 2020 | Ohtani is not in Thursday's lineup against the Rangers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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, but Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports that it's just a regular day off. Matt Thaiss gets the start at designated hitter and will bat second. |
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| Sep 9 2020 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in a loss to Texas on Tuesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 steal attempts, tying him for the 10th-highest figure in the AL. He has been especially proficient in that category of late, swiping five bags over his last 11 games. |
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| Sep 6 2020 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 5 2020 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Saturday's doubleheader with the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 31 2020 | Ohtani will sit Monday against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 30 2020 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a stolen base and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 extra-inning loss to the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 29 2020 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a double, walk, stolen base and run scored in Friday's victory versus the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 25 2020 | Manager Joe Maddon envisions Ohtani being able to play the field in future seasons, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 23 2020 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a walk and a three-run home run Sunday against the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 21 2020 | Ohtani isn't starting Friday against the Athletics. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 17 2020 | Ohtani is not starting Monday against the Giants. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 12 2020 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Tuesday's win over Oakland. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 11 2020 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run, a double and a walk in a win over Oakland on Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 9 2020 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and a walk in Sunday's 7-3 loss to Texas. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 6 2020 | Ohtani went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in a win over Seattle on Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 5 2020 | Ohtani (forearm) is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Mariners, but he's expected to start at designated hitter in Thursday's series finale, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 4 2020 | Ohtani (forearm) isn't expected to pitch again this season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 3 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 2 2020 | Ohtani experienced arm discomfort after Sunday's start and underwent an MRI, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Aug 1 2020 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Astros, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels appear set to continue their plan of resting Ohtani both before and after his scheduled starts. They deviated from that plan Monday, as Ohtani served as the designated hitter that day despite starting the day before, though that exception was likely due to the fact that his start was very abbreviated as he faced just six batters without recording a single out. Albert Pujols will rest his legs as the designated hitter Saturday, with Matt Thaiss starting at first base. |
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| Jul 30 2020 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and a stolen base in Thursday's 8-5 loss to the Mariners. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 29 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 27 2020 | Ohtani is "totally healthy" according to pitching coach Mickey Callaway, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 26 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 25 2020 | Ohtani will not be on a pitch count in his first start of the season Sunday against Oakland, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 24 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 20 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 16 2020 | Ohtani will likely be the Angels' starting pitcher on Sundays throughout the 2020 season, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 13 2020 | Ohtani struggled with his command during his 60-pitch outing in Monday's intrasquad game, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 12 2020 | Ohtani will pitch in Monday's intrasquad game, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 11 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 7 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 6 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 4 2020 | Ohtani indicated that he will probably not include a leg kick in his swing this year, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jul 3 2020 | Ohtani completed a bullpen session at Angel Stadium on Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 30 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Jun 24 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. Maddon followed up by saying he plans to keep Ohtani on his once-a-week pitching schedule this season. |
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| Jun 19 2020 | Ohtani posted a video of himself deadlifting 495 pounds on his personal Instagram page Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| May 31 2020 | Ohtani (elbow) 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels have indicated that Ohtani, who has thrown live BP three times, will stick to 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. |
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| May 13 2020 | Ohtani (elbow) has been "ramping up intensity and volume," Jeff Fletcher of The Orange Country Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Apr 26 2020 | 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 at about "80 to 85 percent" intensity. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 of play. Eppler estimates 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. |
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| Apr 17 2020 | Ohtani (elbow) has started throwing bullpen sessions, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 well for the possibility that the Angels' ace could be ready to pitch in games by the time the 2020 season gets underway. |
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| Apr 7 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 24 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 18 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 13 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Mar 12 2020 | 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. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The current plan will have 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. |
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| Feb 29 2020 | Ohtani is considering adding a leg kick to his swing, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 23 2020 | Ohtani (elbow) threw off a mound Sunday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Feb 11 2020 | Ohtani (elbow) could return to a major-league mound in mid-May, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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 will be limited out of the gate, so expect him to serve as the primary DH to begin 2020 before eventually playing both ways. |
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| Dec 19 2019 | Ohtani (elbow/knee) completed his throwing progression Thursday and is now finished with Tommy John rehab, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Nov 26 2019 | Ohtani (elbow/knee) was cleared to throw off a mound Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Nov 11 2019 | Ohtani (knee) remains on track to finish his rehab in mid-December, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani was limited to hitting duties 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. |
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| Oct 25 2019 | Ohtani (knee) has been cleared to throw from 100 feet, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: 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. |
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| Sep 26 2019 | Ohtani (knee) played catch while sitting down Wednesday to start his throwing program, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani 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. |
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| Sep 13 2019 | Ohtani underwent successful surgery Friday to address a bipartite patella in his left knee, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The condition, in which a kneecap is composed of two separate bones rather than fusing together as normally occurs during early childhood, was identified in February. Ohtani elected to have surgery now rather than wait until the offseason because it was bothering him while throwing bullpen sessions as part of his rehab from Tommy John surgery, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Ohtani is expected to resume mound work in about 10 weeks and should be able to reprise his role as a two-way player by the time spring training begins in 2020. |
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| Sep 12 2019 | Ohtani will undergo season-ending surgery to address a bipartite patella in his left knee. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The procedure, which Ohtani will undergo Friday in Los Angeles, typically carries an 8-to-12-week recovery timeframe, so the two-way star should be fully healed by the time spring training rolls around. According to Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, this won't affect Ohtani's recovery from Tommy John surgery; he's still expected to complete the throwing portion of his rehab in December. The 25-year-old appeared in 106 games as DH in his second year in the majors, finishing with a .286/.343/.505 slash line along with 18 home runs, 12 stolen bases and 62 RBI. |
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| Sep 8 2019 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a home run, a double, five RBI and a stolen base in Saturday's win over the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani got the Angels on the board with a two-run double in the first inning and drove in three more with a homer to left field in the third. The five runs batted in established a career high and the long ball was his first since Aug. 18. The 25-year-old has experienced a dip in power this season but has remained productive at the plate, slashing .293/.349/.512 with 17 homers and 60 RBI in 409 plate appearances. |
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| Sep 4 2019 | Ohtani was moved to the fifth spot in the batting order and went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts against Oakland on Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ohtani had occupied the third spot in the order in each of his starts this year, but Brian Goodwin was pencilled in to the esteemed position behind Mike Trout on Wednesday. The move may have been an attempt to shake Ohtani out of a recent slump that has seen him go 4-for-37 over his last 11 games. It remains to be seen whether the lineup change is permanent or a one-off experiment. |
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| Sep 1 2019 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Rhett Bollinger | of MLB.com reports. |
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| Aug 31 2019 | Ohtani is not starting Saturday against the Red Sox. | |
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| Aug 24 2019 | Ohtani threw a 35-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic | reports. |
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| Aug 21 2019 | Ohtani is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers. | |
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| Aug 20 2019 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the | Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. |
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| Aug 18 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Sunday's 9-2 win over the White Sox. | |
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| Aug 17 2019 | Ohtani threw a 40-pitch bullpen session Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic | reports. |
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| Aug 11 2019 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Sunday's 5-4 win over the Red Sox. | |
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| Aug 10 2019 | Ohtani threw a bullpen session at about 80 percent effort Saturday, Maria Torres | of the Los Angeles Times reports. |
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| Aug 6 2019 | Ohtani remains on the bench Tuesday in Cincinnati. | |
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| Aug 5 2019 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Monday's game in Cincinnati, Jeff Fletcher of The | Orange County Register reports. |
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| Jul 31 2019 | Ohtani is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers. | |
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| Jul 27 2019 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 8-7 loss to the | Orioles. |
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| Jul 27 2019 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Saturday's 8-7 loss to the Orioles. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 23 2019 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game on the road against the Dodgers, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 20 2019 | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a stolen base in Saturday's 6-2 win over the Mariners. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 17 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, an RBI, and a run scored in a victory over Houston on Tuesday. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 13 2019 | Ohtani went 0-for-3 with a stolen base, a run scored and a walk in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Mariners. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 8 2019 | Ohtani went 1-for-6 with a two-run home run Sunday in the Angels' 11-10 loss to the Astros in 10 innings. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 2 2019 | Ohtani will sit Tuesday<\/a> against lefty Mike Minor and the Rangers. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 1 2019 | Ohtani is out of the lineup<\/a> for Monday's game at Texas. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 30 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs during Sunday's 12-3 win over the Athletics. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 28 2019 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Friday's 7-2 loss to the Athletics. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 27 2019 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Thursday's 8-3 victory over the A's. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 27 2019 | Ohtani went 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base and a run scored Wednesday in the Angels' 5-1 win over the Reds. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 25 2019 | Ohtani will throw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in October, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 23 2019 | Ohtani is not in the lineup<\/a> Sunday at St. Louis. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 22 2019 | Ohtani remains out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Cardinals, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 20 2019 | Ohtani is not in Thursday's lineup against the Blue Jays, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 13 2019 | Ohtani finished 4-for-4 while hitting for the cycle in Thursday's 5-3 win over the Rays, adding three RBI and two runs scored. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 12 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a stolen base in a victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 10 2019 | Ohtani isn't in the starting lineup<\/a> for Monday's game against the Dodgers. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 8 2019 | Ohtani went 3-for-5 with a solo home run, an RBI double and three runs scored in Saturday's 12-3 win over the Mariners. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 6 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, a walk and another run scored in Wednesday's 10-9 win against the Athletics. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 6 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI, a walk and another run scored in Wednesday's 10-9 win against the A's. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 5 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the A's. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jun 3 2019 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cubs, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 31 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Friday's 4-3 loss to the Mariners. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 30 2019 | Ohtani is not in the lineup<\/a> Thursday against the Mariners. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 23 2019 | Ohtani is not in Thursday's lineup<\/a> against the Twins. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 22 2019 | Ohtani is not in Wednesday's lineup<\/a> against the Twins. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 21 2019 | Ohtani (finger) is starting at designated hitter<\/a> and batting third Tuesday against the Twins. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 21 2019 | Ohtani was cleared of any structural damage to his right ring finger after the X-rays he required following Monday's 3-1 loss to the Twins returned negative, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 21 2019 | Ohtani was cleared of any structural damage to his right ring finger after the X-rays he underwent after Monday's 3-1 loss to the Twins returned negative, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 20 2019 | Ohtani was hit on the right hand in his presumably final at-bat Monday night against the Twins. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 18 2019 | Ohtani (elbow) is now throwing four days a week after previously throwing just three times per week, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 15 2019 | Ohtani (elbow) extended his throwing distance to 115 feet prior to Wednesday's game against the Twins, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 14 2019 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with a home run, two walks and two RBI in Monday's 5-4 win over the Twins. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 14 2019 | Ohtani went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Twins. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 12 2019 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Sunday's series finale at Baltimore, Maria Torres of the Los Angeles Times<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 8 2019 | Ohtani (elbow) went 0-for-4 with a walk and an RBI in Tuesday's 5-2 win over the Tigers. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 7 2019 | Ohtani (elbow) has been activated<\/a> from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game against the Tigers. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 7 2019 | Ohtani's recovery from Tommy John surgery as a pitcher won't require him to miss days as a hitter until at least September, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register<\/a> reports. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 7 2019 | Ohtani will bat third and serve as the designated hitter<\/a> in his first game back from Tommy John surgery. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| May 6 2019 | Ohtani (elbow) will travel<\/a> to Detroit ahead of the Angels' three-game series with the Tigers. The Angels plan to assess Ohtani's condition prior to Tuesday's game before providing an update on his availability. | Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news. |
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| Jul 24 2018 | Ohtani is out of Tuesday's lineup against the White Sox. | It sounds like the Angels are still going to try to get Ohtani starts primarily against righties, as he had an ugly at-bat in Monday's game against a southpaw, so he takes a seat with Carlos Rodon starting for Chicago. Albert Pujols gets the start at designated hitter, hitting fifth. |
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| Jul 23 2018 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Monday against the White Sox. | Ohtani took Lucas Giolito deep in the fourth inning for his eighth home run of the season and second since returning from the disabled list on July 1. He has recorded 10 hits in 39 bats in that span, highlighted by six extra-base hits. He was recently limited due to the Angels' traveling to National League parks, but he should continue to see regular at-bats at DH so long as there is a right-hander on the mound. |
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| Jul 20 2018 | Ohtani managed to play catch from 60 feet Friday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports. | After being cleared to begin a throwing program Thursday, Ohtani successfully threw for the first time since suffering a right elbow injury. Manager Mike Scioscia stated Ohtani will likely throw every other day moving forward, and he expects Ohtani to take the hill before the seasons end barring any setbacks, per Ardaya. |
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| Jul 19 2018 | Ohtani is set to start a throwing program in the coming days following his six week reevaluation on his throwing elbow. | After being reexamined, it was determined that Ohtani's right elbow ligament is healing, and he could pitch again sometime this season if all goes well. Although he's been shut down from throwing since June 8, he's managed to contribute with his bat in the designated hitter slot. Expect more updates on Ohtani's status as he progresses through his throwing program. |
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| Jul 14 2018 | Ohtani is out of Saturday's lineup against the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports. | With the Angels on the road against the Dodgers, Ohtani will be held out of the lineup for the third straight day. He did manage to pinch hit Friday as he smacked a double. |
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| Jul 13 2018 | Ohtani is not in the lineup against the Dodgers on Friday, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports. | Without a DH in Dodger Stadium, Ohtani will not be deployed in the starting lineup this weekend. The 23-year-old will be available off the bench as a pinch hitter. |
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| Jul 12 2018 | Ohtani isn't in Thursday's starting lineup against the Mariners. | Ohtani will take a seat for his second straight game, although he did pinch hit Wednesday. The 23-year-old is slashing .279/.359/.515 with seven homers and 22 RBI as a batter this season. |
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| Jul 11 2018 | Ohtani's elbow will be reevaluated on July 19, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports. | Ohtani hasn't pitched since June 6, but he's been back as a hitter for over a week. At his previous evaluation back in late June, it was revealed that doctors were not recommending surgery, though whether or not he'd be able to pitch again this season remained up in the air. That should become clear following his next evaluation. |
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| Jul 11 2018 | Ohtani is not in Wednesday's starting lineup against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | After returning to the starting lineup from a knee injury Tuesday, the Angels are likely taking it easy with the 23-year-old star, although it's also worth noting that Los Angeles is facing left-hander Marco Gonzales. Albert Pujols is slotted into the lineup as the designated hitter and Jefry Marte will take over at first base with Ohtani likely available to pinch hit off the bench if needed. |
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| Jul 11 2018 | Ohtani (knee) went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's win over Seattle. | Ohtani was forced to come off the bench Sunday after fouling a ball off his right knee Saturday. The two-way star homered in his lone at-bat Sunday, and reaffirmed the health of his knee with a return to the starting lineup Tuesday. Ohtani is still not ready to pitch due to a Grade 2 UCL sprain in his throwing elbow, but the injury will not affect his status as the Halos' primary designated hitter. |
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| Jul 8 2018 | Ohtani (knee) was called upon to hit in the seventh inning of Sunday's tilt against the Dodgers, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports. | Ohtani was held out of the lineup after fouling a ball off his right knee Saturday, but he appears to be okay after being used off the bench. He further demonstrated his health by blasting a solo home run in his lone at-bat of the night. |
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| Jul 8 2018 | Ohtani (knee) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | The Angels are unsurprisingly playing things conservatively with the rookie phenom, who will head to the bench for the series finale after fouling a ball off his right knee late in Saturday's contest. It's not viewed as a major concern for Ohtani, who will benefit from two days off before the Angels play their next game Tuesday against the Mariners. |
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| Jul 7 2018 | Ohtani is being considered day-to-day after fouling a ball off his right knee in the ninth inning of Saturday's game," Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports. | Ohtani doesn't seem to think it's a big deal, saying he thinks he'll "be fine." With a lefty in Alex Wood due up for the Dodgers in Sunday's series finale, the Angels will almost certainly hold Ohtani out and then reassess things following Monday's off day. The 24-year-old went 0-for-4 on Saturday and is now 2-for-16 since coming off the disabled list. |
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| Jul 5 2018 | Ohtani is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mariners. | After making back-to-back starts following his activation from the DL on Tuesday, Ohtani will get a rest day for the series finale. He went 0-for-4 in his first game back before notching a pair of base hits in Wednesday's tilt. He figures to return to the DH spot during the Angels' weekend series against the Dodgers. |
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| Jul 4 2018 | Ohtani (elbow) went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts against the Mariners on Tuesday in his first game back from the DL. | With lefty Wade LeBlanc on the mound for the Mariners, Ohtani was deployed as the Angels' No. 6 hitter Tuesday night. It's unclear if Ohtani will be able to pitch again this season, but he's scheduled to be evaluated again in the coming weeks. Without having to pitch in the near future, Ohtani's workload as the Angels' primary DH could increase from his usage in the first half of the season, but it remains to be seen if the elbow injury will have an impact on his output at the plate. |
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| Jul 3 2018 | Ohtani (elbow) was activated from the 10-day DL ahead of Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group reports. | Ohtani will immediately rejoin the starting lineup and bat sixth as the Angels' designated hitter Tuesday. Expect to see him in the lineup regularly since his injured elbow didn't impact any part of his swing during batting practice sessions or simulated games in recent weeks. In regards to pitching, the 23-year-old's status is still uncertain and he will be reevaluated in a couple weeks. |
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| Jul 1 2018 | Ohtani (elbow) will take live batting practice Sunday and is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list at some point during the upcoming week, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani endured no complications with his sprained right elbow while taking batting practice Friday and hitting in a simulated game Saturday, so he'll face live pitching again Sunday with the hope of proving to the Angels that he's ready for reinstatement. The right-hander has yet to resume a throwing program and isn't expected to take part in any mound work until at least late July, as the Angels will re-evaluate him after the All-Star break to see if a platelet-rich plasma injection has alleviated the pain he's experiencing in his elbow. It appears the injury won't hinder him at the plate, however, so Ohtani should soon be available to serve as the primary designated hitter for the Angels. He could be activated as soon as Tuesday, when the team opens a three-game series with the Mariners. |
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| Jun 30 2018 | Ohtani (elbow) took live batting practice and participated in a simulated game prior to Saturday's game in Baltimore. | It's the second straight day of batting practice for Ohtani, and facing live pitchers during the simulated game represents a big step for his potential return as a designated hitter. The Angels indicated the 23-year-old's pitching prospects for 2018 will be re-evaluated in three weeks after receiving a PRP injection, but he could seemingly return to the team as a DH as soon as next week's series in Seattle. |
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| Jun 29 2018 | Ohtani (elbow) took batting practice on the field again Friday and said afterward that he "felt great," Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Friday's batting practice session marked Ohtani's second in as many days, and he could progress to taking live batting practice as soon as this weekend. The Angels have made it clear that they plan to have Ohtani return as a hitter this season, and given how well he's responded so far to his hitting program, a return as the DH before the All-Star break or shortly thereafter seems entirely possible. As far as pitching goes, Ohtani was recently treated with a PRP injection in his pitching elbow and the team will follow up in three weeks or so to determine if a return to the mound is realistic for this season. |
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| Jun 28 2018 | Ohtani (elbow) was cleared to begin a hitting program and will be re-evaluated in three weeks, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. | General manager Billy Eppler said that Ohtani's MRI revealed improvement and indicated healing in his ligament. This will allow Ohtani to start batting practice immediately, though Eppler was noncommittal when discussing his pitching prospects. The GM added that Ohtani's check-up with doctors in three weeks will give the team a better idea of whether he'll be able to pitch again this year. Looking ahead, Ohtani is not expected to appear in any minor-league rehab contests, rather, he will resume hitting in simulated games and could face live pitching as soon as this weekend if all goes according to plan, per Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group. |
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| Jun 27 2018 | General manager Billy Eppler said Ohtani is "likely to return as a hitter" no matter what the result of Ohtani's PRP injection is, Jim Duquette of SiriusXM Radio reports. | Eppler added that the Angels chose to go this route because the team still hopes Ohtani will be able to take the mound this season. The GM also stated that more will be known regarding Ohtani's status during Thursday's re-evaluation of his elbow. In the event that Ohtani is forced to require surgery, the organization could elect to delay the procedure until the offseason in order to keep Ohtani's bat in the lineup. |
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| Jun 19 2018 | Ohtani (elbow) has begun a rehab regimen since being shut down June 8 with a Grade 2 UCL sprain, Avery Yang of MLB.com reports. | Thus far, Ohtani's activities have included one-armed swings, running and general strength training, but he seems unlikely to begin a throwing program until after being re-evaluated at the end of the month. While manager Mike Scioscia said Monday that the Angels' medical staff was "very optimistic" about Ohtani's prognosis and said the rookie's "swing is not impacting his ligament at all," the skipper declined to say whether Ohtani would be used as a hitter prior to resuming mound work. |
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| Jun 11 2018 | There is concern within the Angels organization that Ohtani (elbow), who is recovering from a Grade 2 sprain of his right UCL, will require Tommy John surgery, Pedro Gomez of ESPN reports. | When the Angels placed Ohtani on the 10-day disabled list Friday, the team announced that the star rookie's status would be re-evaluated in three weeks after he received a stem-cell injection and platelet-rich plasma treatment to address the partial ligament tear. It sounds like the organization will wait until the end of the month to see how Ohtani's elbow responds to the treatment, but Gomez said that those close to the situation believe that surgery is "probably" inevitable. If Ohtani does need to go under the knife, it would spell an end to his 2018 season, and would likely keep him sidelined for the entire 2019 campaign as well. In the event Ohtani avoids a procedure on the elbow, he likely wouldn't be available to pitch until after the All-Star break at the earliest, dimming his outlook in single-season formats. |
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| Jun 11 2018 | Manager Mike Scioscia is hopeful Ohtani (elbow) can still be utilized as a hitter at some point this season, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ohtani has already begun rehabbing his injured elbow, and even if he's not able to resume pitching in three weeks, the Angels haven't ruled out penciling him into the lineup as the designated hitter. The 23-year-old would need to be cleared to hit by the team doctor prior to returning to action. More news on Ohtani's status figures to be released following his reevaluation in early July. |
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| Jun 11 2018 | General manager Billy Eppler said "there have been no changes in Ohtani's (elbow) diagnosis and neither our physicians nor medical staff have recommended (Tommy John surgery) or said it's likely," Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. | It was reported earlier by Pedro Gomez of ESPN that the two-way superstar, who was placed on the disabled list Friday with a Grade 2 UCL sprain, would "probably" need Tommy John surgery to address the partial ligament tear in his right elbow. However, the Angels have since refuted that claim, confirming that they will reevaluate Ohtani in three weeks before determining the next step in his recovery. Surgery is certainly still on the table for the 23-year-old, but the Angels are hoping that Ohtani will be able to avoid the dreaded procedure with non-surgical methods of recovery. If Ohtani were ultimately forced to undergo surgery, he would likely be sidelined until 2020. He could return to the mound after the All-Star break if he avoids surgery, but either way, he's set for an extended absence. |
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| Jun 8 2018 | Ohtani (finger) will be skipped in the Angels' rotation and could land on the disabled list in the coming days, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. | The right-hander is set to miss at least one start after suffering a blister on his middle finger during Wednesday's outing. Due to Ohtani's rare situation as a designated hitter as well as a pitcher, the Angels may elect to keep him off the shelf while he continues to provide offensive value. That could be seen as a risk in the event that his blister worsens or fails to recover due to swinging, though this hasn't bothered him in the past when dealing with this issue. Since the Angels are able to backdate his potential trip to the DL up to three days, the club will have a little time to figure out the best course of action. |
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| Jun 8 2018 | Ohtani (finger) was put on the 10-day disabled list due to a Grade 2 ulnar collateral ligament sprain after receiving a stem cell injection and platelet-rich plasma treatment Thursday afternoon. The Angels will re-evaluate his status in three weeks. | The Angels added that they will "update his plan of care" once he's re-examined by team doctors at the three-week point. This announcement comes as a surprise following Ohtani's removal from Wednesday's outing due to a blister injury, as this could keep the 23-year-old sidelined until after the All-Star Game, depending on his recovery. Don't expect Ohtani to return until the first week of July, at the earliest, though that seems optimistic as the club will likely be as precautious as possible with their budding superstar. |
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| Jun 7 2018 | Angels manager Mike Scioscia said the blister Ohtani suffered on his right middle finger during his start Wednesday against the Royals isn't as severe as the one the rookie dealt with in April, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani lasted four innings Wednesday before being pulled due to the blister, taking a no-decision while giving up one run on four hits and three walks and striking out four in the Angels' victory. The 23-year-old occasionally battled blisters during his time in Japan, so it's somewhat unsettling that he's already been removed in two outings this season on account of the same issue. Fortunately for Ohtani, the Angels don't believe the latest occurrence is cause for major concern, and if Scioscia's assessment of the situation is correct, the right-hander may not even be forced to skip a start. After leaving his April 17 outing against the Red Sox with the blister, Ohtani was cleared to take the hill the following week on his normal six days' rest. Ohtani is tentatively lined up to make his next turn June 13 in Seattle. |
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| Jun 6 2018 | Ohtani was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals prior to the fifth inning with an apparent injury, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic Los Angeles reports. | Ohtani had a meeting with trainers after warming up for the fifth inning, after which he exited the game and headed straight to the clubhouse. The 23-year-old was seen blowing on his hand/fingers during the game, per Ardaya, suggesting the blisters he dealt with earlier in the season could be back. Ohtani had allowed one run over four innings prior to exiting the game. |
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| Jun 6 2018 | Ohtani exited Wednesday's game prior to the fifth inning with a blister on his right middle finger, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ohtani was seen blowing on his hand throughout the outing, and he was ultimately removed prior to the fifth frame due to the issue. He had allowed just one run through four innings while striking out four prior to exiting. The severity of the issue remains unclear, but it's worth noting that the 23-year-old was able to stay on schedule after exiting a start earlier in the year with blisters. |
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| Jun 5 2018 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Royals. | As per usual, Ohtani will head to the bench Tuesday as he continues to be withheld from the lineup the day before he pitches. Mike Trout is serving as DH and hitting third in his stead. |
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| Jun 4 2018 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Royals. | Ohtani is just 4-for-28 (.143) against left-handed pitchers this season, so it does not come as a major surprise he is being held out against Royals southpaw Danny Duffy. Ohtani could pinch hit Monday if need be, but he is scheduled to start on the mound Wednesday and has not hit the day before he pitches all season, so don't expect to see his name listed in the Angels' batting order until Friday. |
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| Jun 1 2018 | Ohtani's next start is expected to come Wednesday against the Royals, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports. | Ohtani will make his ninth appearance on the hill after his last start came Wednesday versus Detroit. Although it hasn't been made official just yet, expect Ohtani to get Tuesday off as he prepares to take the mound the following day. He's logged 45.1 innings so far this season and sits with a 3.18 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. |
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| May 31 2018 | Ohtani is not in Thursday's lineup against the Tigers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani tossed five innings Wednesday night, so he'll get the day to rest with his next start on the mound likely to come either Tuesday or Wednesday. Mike Trout is penciled into the lineup as the designated hitter and Chris Young will take over in center field with Ohtani on the bench. |
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| May 30 2018 | Ohtani didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 6-1 loss to the Tigers, allowing one run on three hits and three walks over five innings while striking out five. | The right-hander survived a 23-minute rain delay after the fourth inning, but following another 41-minute delay heading into the sixth, Ohtani's night was done, and the Angels' bullpen unraveled quickly afterwards. He'll carry a 3.18 ERA into his next outing, likely either Tuesday or Wednesday at home against the Royals. |
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| May 29 2018 | Ohtani was officially named Wednesday's starting pitcher against the Tigers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani was scheduled to throw Wednesday, and manager Mike Scioscia made it official Tuesday. The 23-year-old has posted a 3.35 ERA and 1.07 WHIP with 52 strikeouts across 40.1 innings this season. |
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| May 29 2018 | Ohtani is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Tigers, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ohtani is scheduled to pitch Wednesday, so he'll take his usual seat on the bench for Tuesday's contest. With the 23-year-old situated on the bench, Albert Pujols will serve as the team's DH while Luis Valbuena will pick up a start at first base. Ohtani is hitting .291/.376/.553 through 117 plate appearances this season while also maintaining a 3.35 ERA and 11.6 K/9 across 40.1 innings (seven starts). |
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| May 28 2018 | Ohtani, who is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, will likely make his next start Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | It was originally reported that Ohtani would be lined up to pitch Friday, however after throwing a bullpen session Monday, the 23-year-old remains lined up to make his next start against the Tigers on Wednesday. He owns a 3.35 ERA and 52:14 K:BB across 40.1 innings (seven starts) this season. Ohtani will be available to pinch hit during Monday's game against Detroit. |
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| May 28 2018 | Ohtani is out of the lineup Monday against the Tigers. He is throwing a bullpen session and will likely make his next start on Friday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani will head to the bench for Monday's series opener as he prepares for his start later in the week. The 23-year-old will be available to pinch hit Monday, but Albert Pujols will start at DH in this one, with Jefry Marte picking up a start at first base as manager Mike Scioscia goes with an all right-handed hitting lineup against southpaw Matt Boyd. |
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| May 27 2018 | Ohtani is expected to make his next scheduled start Wednesday against the Tigers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | The Angels are listing Tyler Skaggs, Nick Tropeano and Andrew Heaney as their other probable starters for the four-game series with Detroit, with Wednesday's assignment the only unfilled opening. Assuming Ohtani completes a bullpen session Monday without issue, he'll likely be formally cleared to take the hill Wednesday for the first time since May 20. The Angels opted to shut Ohtani down temporarily to keep his workload in check rather than out of any concern about his health, so fantasy owners shouldn't have any reservations about keeping him active during the upcoming week. Ohtani has posted a 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 26:5 K:BB across 20 innings over his last three outings. |
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| May 26 2018 | Ohtani is penciled in to pitch during next week's series in Detroit, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports. | The two-way phenom was spotted throwing a bullpen session Saturday afternoon, and as Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register notes, Ohtani typically does that four days before a start on the mound. With that in mind, Ohtani seems to be on track to start Wednesday opposite Mike Fiers. The Angels decided to push Ohtani back from Sunday, citing workload concerns. Ohtani is in the lineup as the designated hitter Saturday, batting fifth against the Yankees, and it seems likely that he will DH on Sunday and Monday as well before taking a day to rest. |
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| May 24 2018 | Ohtani won't make his next scheduled start Sunday against the Yankees, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Manager Mike Scioscia stated that the Angels are trying to manage Ohtani's workload, and they haven't determined when he'll appear next on the hill. Garrett Richards will make the start Sunday in his place, although Ohtani will be available to hit. The 23-year-old has made seven starts this season and sports a 3.35 ERA with 52 strikeouts over 40.1 innings. |
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| May 24 2018 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a walk and a pair of RBI in Wednesday's 5-4 win over Toronto. | Ohtani's two-run single was a key part of a four-run ninth inning that secured the victory for the Halos. The talented two-way star has delivered in both his roles, slashing .308/.364/.582 at the plate while posting a 3.35 ERA with an 11.6 K/9 on the mound. The 23-year-old should get another get another start or two as a hitter before taking the mound Sunday against the Yankees. |
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| May 20 2018 | Ohtani (4-1) got the win against the Rays on Sunday giving up two earned runs on six hits over 7.2 innings, striking out nine and walking one in a 5-2 victory for the Angels. | Coming off a dominant 11-strikeout effort against the Twins, Ohtani was superb on the mound again and the 23-year-old has now yielded just three earned runs and posted a phenomenal 20:3 K:BB over his last 15 innings, bringing his ERA down to 3.35 and his WHIP to 1.07. It's stating the obvious at this point, but the fact that he's putting up those numbers as a pitcher while also slashing .321/.367/.619 at the plate is nothing short of ridiculous and a show of prolonged two-way dominance that is simply unprecedented in the modern era. His ability to play both roles at a high level is established - the main question now is whether the Angels will eventually decide to rest him less frequently and give him more at-bats between pitching starts, which would allow him to make even more of a fantasy impact at the plate. |
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| May 19 2018 | Ohtani is out of the lineup Saturday against the Rays. | Ohtani is scheduled to pitch in Sunday's contest, so he won't be the designated hitter Saturday, following the same system the Angels have used all season. The team (and Ohtani's fantasy owners) would probably love him to hit more often, as he's recorded an excellent .321/.367/.619 line with six homers in 90 plate appearances. It's remained a sacrifice worth making in order to allow him to pitch, however, has he's also recorded a 3.58 ERA and a 32.8 percent strikeout rate through his first six starts on the mound. |
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| May 15 2018 | Ohtani is tentatively scheduled to start in the series finale against the Rays on Sunday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | It would be the third straight Sunday start for Ohtani as the Angels continue with the six-man rotation, and have yet to start him on less than six days of rest. The 23-year-old is coming off a quality start against the Twins in which he allowed only three hits and racked up 11 strikeouts. Ohtani should see plenty of at-bats prior to Saturday's rest day, and is batting second for Tuesday's game against the Astros. |
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| May 13 2018 | Ohtani struck out 11 Twins over 6.1 innings Sunday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks. He did not factor into the decision. | He was utterly dominant for most of the start, but was forced to turn the game over to Cam Bedrosian after reaching 103 pitches (69 strikes) midway through the seventh inning. Bedrosian promptly allowed an inherited runner to score, making it a 1-1 tie after seven frames. Four of Ohtani's six MLB starts have been quality, and he has now struck out 11-plus twice -- he fell one strikeout shy of tying his career high. He will start next weekend at home against the Rays. |
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| May 11 2018 | Ohtani will serve as the Angels' DH and bat fourth against Minnesota on Friday. | Ohtani will bat out of the cleanup spot for the second time this season as Albert Pujols gets the night off. Over 70 plate appearances, Ohtani is hitting .354/.400/.677 with five home runs and 16 RBI. |
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| May 11 2018 | Ohtani went 2-for-4 with a homer and a pair of RBI in Thursday's win against the Twins. | Ohtani's homer, his fifth of the season, was a seventh-inning solo shot off Trevor Hildenberger that stretched the Angels' lead to three. He also had a third-inning RBI double, his fourth double of the season. The two-way phenom has perhaps impressed more with the bat than the arm so far this season, hitting .354/.400/.677 in 70 plate appearances. Among players who have hit that plate appearance threshold, Ohtani's slugging percentage ranks fourth, as does his 189 wRC+. His .400 BABIP suggests that his numbers are due to come down a bit, but with the 13th-highest exit velocity in the league and above-average speed, he fits the profile of the sort of player who could run a relatively high BABIP. |
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| May 9 2018 | Ohtani will make his next start Sunday against the Twins, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | While he managed a mild ankle sprain, Ohtani went 11 days between starts before taking the mound last Sunday in Seattle, tossing six innings of two-run ball in a win over the Mariners. After escaping that outing without any health concerns, Ohtani will resume pitching on his normal six days' rest schedule, as expected. Expect the Angels to use Ohtani as their designated hitter Thursday and Friday against the Twins before holding him out of the lineup Saturday in advance of the pitching start. |
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| May 5 2018 | Ohtani will take the mound Sunday against the Mariners, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ohtani suffered a mild left ankle spain April 27 against the Yankees and hasn't pitched since April 24, but has served as designated hitter each of the past four games. The 23-year-old will be out of the lineup Saturday due to him taking the mound Sunday. |
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| May 3 2018 | Ohtani went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI in the Angels' 12-3 romp over the Orioles on Thursday. | The dual-threat phenom checked in with another solid day at the plate against Baltimore to raise his average to .327 and his OPS to .991 through 55 at-bats. The ankle injury that caused him to have his scheduled start on Tuesday pushed back doesn't look like it's effecting him, so assuming he doesn't encounter any setbacks he should be good to go on the mound against Seattle on Sunday as he looks to continue his remarkable rookie campaign. |
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| May 3 2018 | Ohtani is set to DH and bat fifth against Baltimore on Thursday. | Ohtani will be back in the lineup for the second straight day as he remains on track to take the mound Sunday, though the club has yet to name an official starter for the series finale in Seattle. |
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| May 2 2018 | Ohtani could make his next start Sunday against the Mariners, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports. | Ohtani was originally scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Orioles, but a minor ankle injury prompted the Angels to push his start back. While he's returned to action as the designated hitter, the Angels have yet to confirm when he'll return to the mound. The 23-year-old tossed a light bullpen session Wednesday, and Guardado noted he normally does that four days before his start. Barring any setbacks, that would line him up to start Sunday's series finale in Seattle. |
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| May 2 2018 | Ohtani will DH and bat fifth against the Orioles on Wednesday. | Ohtani will be utilized in the lineup for the second straight game after going 1-for-4 with a double during Tuesday's contest. Looking ahead, Ohtani is expected to return to the mound this weekend against Seattle. |
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| May 1 2018 | Ohtani (ankle) is batting fifth and serving as the designated hitter Tuesday against the Orioles. | As expected, Ohtani is back in the lineup for the first time since injuring his ankle against the Yankees on Friday. The 23-year-old, who is hitting an impressive .341/.383/.682 with four homers through 12 games this season, will face righty Alex Cobb in his return to the lineup. Barring any setbacks, Ohtani figures to take the mound during the team's three-game series against the Mariners this weekend. |
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| Apr 29 2018 | Ohtani (ankle) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees. | The Angels will be cautious with Ohtani, who is dealing with a sprained ankle. Ohtani had been scheduled to take the mound for Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles, but had his turn pushed to a later date so that he could have additional time for his ankle's condition to improve. Andrelton Simmons will occupy the DH spot and hit fifth Sunday with Ohtani out. |
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| Apr 29 2018 | The Angels are listing Nick Tropeano as their starter for Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles, suggesting that Ohtani will have his turn pushed back or potentially skipped, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports. | Tropeano will be followed by Andrew Heaney on Wednesday, with the Angels having yet to name a starter for the series finale Thursday. It's possible that Ohtani will be considered for that contest, but only if the left ankle he tweaked while running the bases Friday doesn't prove to be an issue. Considering the uncertainty regarding Ohtani's next start in addition to the fact that he's been tagged for seven runs over 7.1 innings in his last two outings, it may be prudent for fantasy owners to keep the 23-year-old on the bench in weekly leagues. |
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| Apr 29 2018 | Ohtani (ankle) will likely serve as the Angels' designated hitter Tuesday against the Orioles and will make his next pitching start during the series against the Mariners from April 4 to April 6, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani's injured ankle is reportedly progressing well, but the Angels will not rush him back to the mound before he is fully ready. Manager Mike Scioscia expects him to be in the lineup for Tuesday's series opener against the Orioles, but he'll have his scheduled start pushed back at least three days into the team's three-game weekend series in Seattle. Nick Tropeano will now pitch Tuesday with Andrew Heaney being moved up to Wednesday. |
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| Apr 29 2018 | Ohtani (ankle) may throw a bullpen session Monday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | If Ohtani ends up throwing a bullpen session Monday and is able to do so without any issues, the Angels are entertaining the idea of having him start Wednesday against the Orioles. Fortunately, there is no concern that Ohtani will land on the disabled list at this point in time. However, in an effort to protect the 23-year-old's ankle, the Angels don't plan on using him at the DH spot until they're certain that he's in full health. More information regarding his availability should be known soon. |
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| Apr 28 2018 | Ohtani said his ankle feels better and he believes he'll be fine for his next scheduled start Tuesday against the Orioles, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports. | Ohtani is day-to-day with what manager Mike Scioscia described as a "manageable" ankle injury. He was available as a pinch hitter Saturday against the Yankees, but Scioscia opted not to use him with the game well out of reach. According to Jp, Ohtani is expecting to take batting practice and throw a bullpen Sunday, after which there should be a clearer idea regarding his status for Tuesday. |
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| Apr 28 2018 | Ohtani (ankle) is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Yankees. | Ohtani was removed from Friday's game after sustaining a mild left ankle sprain running out a ground ball in the fifth inning. The 23-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the Angels provide an additional update. The next scheduled start on the mound for the right-hander is slated for Tuesday against the Orioles, and his availability remains up in the air. |
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| Apr 28 2018 | Ohtani (ankle) remains a bit sore but could be available to pinch hit against the Yankees on Saturday, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports. | Manager Mike Scioscia described the injury as "manageable" for Ohtani, which leaves him firmly in the day-to-day category. The 23-year-old's availability for Tuesday's scheduled start against the Orioles remains up in the air, but ankle sprain still appears to be a relatively minor issue if there is any consideration to utilize him as a pinch hitter. |
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| Apr 27 2018 | Ohtani sustained a mild left ankle sprain and was removed from Friday's game against the Yankees. | Luis Valbuena pinch hit for Ohtani in the bottom of the seventh inning, as he apparently sustained the injury on his broken bat groundout in the fifth inning. The fact the Angels have already classified it as a mild sprain and listed him as day-to-day is a relatively good sign, but his lineup availability for the rest of the series against the Yankees is now in question, as is his next start on the mound, slated for Tuesday against the Orioles. |
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| Apr 27 2018 | Ohtani will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and bat fifth against the Yankees on Friday. | Ohtani returns to the Angels lineup after receiving a few days of rest due to Tuesday's start on the mound and Thursday's off day. The 23-year-old should be available to hit in all three games of the weekend series against the Yankees, as he is next slated to start against the Orioles next Tuesday. |
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| Apr 25 2018 | Ohtani's blister has calloused over, so he doesn't expect it to be an issue for the rest of the season, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | The blister was blamed for Ohtani's poor third start, when he exited after allowing three runs on four hits and a pair of walks in just two innings. It wasn't thought to be an issue for his fourth start Tuesday in Houston, though he still struggled, allowing four runs on six hits and an ugly five walks in 5.1 innings. Those two starts may have knocked a bit of the shine off the exciting young two-way player, as his ERA now stands at an unremarkable 4.43, but there's hope that with the blister issue fully behind him he can get back the dominating stuff he showed in his first two starts. It's certainly believable that switching from the Japanese ball to the American one would cause some initial issues with blisters that could go away fairly quickly, so there's no reason to think that Ohtani is being overly optimistic in thinking that the blister is no longer a problem. |
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| Apr 24 2018 | Ohtani allowed four runs on six hits and five walks while striking out seven over 5.1 innings in Tuesday's win over the Astros. He did not factor into the decision. | Ohtani exited after just two innings due to a blister his last time out, and though that issue subsided, he didn't seem to have his best stuff most of the night Tuesday. The five walks, six hits and four runs were all his worst marks in any of his four starts. Even still, the 23-year-old left in line for the win and struck out seven to raise his K/9 up to 11.51. His next start on the hill figures to come next week in a home series against the Orioles. |
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| Apr 22 2018 | Ohtani will serve as the Angels' designated hitter and bat cleanup Sunday against the Giants. The Angels also announced that Ohtani would make his next start on the mound Tuesday in Houston, according to Jake Kaplan of The Athletic Houston. | Ohtani has previously hit no higher than sixth in the order for the Angels, but manager Mike Scioscia will give the Japanese phenom a look in more of a run-producing role with Albert Pujols resting for the series finale. The 23-year-old is expected to keep receiving at least a couple starts per week as a designated hitter against mostly right-handed pitching, which should help ward off against extended slumps at the plate. As for the pitching side, Ohtani will likely continue to start once a week while the Angels deploy a six-man rotation. He exited his previous turn April 17 with a blister, but after staying on his normal throwing schedule and hitting without any issues Friday, Ohtani isn't expected to face any restrictions in his return to the mound. |
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| Apr 21 2018 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants. | Ohtani went 2-for-4 at the plate Friday after his three-strikeout performance Thursday, but will head to the bench against Giants' left-hander Derek Holland. The 23-year-old has faced some southpaws this season with minimal success -- 2-for-12 with three strikeouts -- but at this point the Angels appear likely to go matchup-to-matchup on starting against left-handed pitching. Ohtani is also expected to throw a bullpen session sometime this weekend in preparation for his next potential start on the mound, currently slated for Tuesday in Houston. |
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| Apr 20 2018 | Ohtani's blister is healing as expected and he remains on his usual throwing schedule, Jeff Miller of the Los Angeles Times reports. | The blister forced him out of his previous start Tuesday against the Red Sox after just two innings. It clearly affected him, as he allowed three runs on four hits and a pair of walks, striking out just one. With extra rest already built into his schedule, it appears that the Angels don't expect him to miss a start. It's an issue worth monitoring, though, as blisters can easily cause a pitcher to miss several starts throughout the season. With Ohtani transitioning to a slightly different ball after coming over from Japan, it's believable that he would be more susceptible to them than the average pitcher. |
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| Apr 20 2018 | Ohtani (blister) will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth Friday against Jeff Samardzija and the Giants, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Thursday's loss, marking his first career multi-strikeout game as a hitter. He saw a heavy dose of changeups from starter Eduardo Rodriguez and struck out twice against the pitch before missing on a 98-mph heater from Joe Kelly in the ninth. Regardless, he will remain in the six hole Friday. Ohtani is expected to throw a bullpen session this weekend to test his finger in preparation for his next start on the mound, which is lined up for Tuesday in Houston. |
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| Apr 19 2018 | Ohtani (hand) will hit sixth in the order for Thursday's game against the Red Sox. | This marks the highest spot in the batting order for Ohtani during his brief career in the big leagues. The 23-year-old will handle the designated hitting duties against left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez after being removed from Tuesday's start on the mound due to a blister on his right hand. Ohtani remains on track to make his next scheduled start against the Astros during this upcoming week. |
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| Apr 18 2018 | Manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels still anticipate that Ohtani (blister) will make his next scheduled start, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani was removed from Tuesday's game against the Red Sox prior to the third inning after developing a blister on his hand, but the team is hopeful that the issue won't keep the two-way superstar out of action. Scioscia said Ohtani is available to DH on Thursday -- noting that the blister has no impact on his decision to deploy Ohtani as the designated hitter -- though he wouldn't confirm his presence in the lineup with a southpaw pitching for the Red Sox. It sounds like the 23-year-old will have no problem hitting, and barring any setbacks, he appears to be lined up to take his turn in the rotation on schedule. |
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| Apr 17 2018 | Ohtani was removed from Tuesday's game against the Red Sox after developing a blister on his right hand. | The emergence of the blister on his throwing hand may help explain Ohtani's poor performance. He had trouble locating his splitter and surrendered three runs on four hits and two walks over two hard-fought innings. The severity of the blister will determine if he's able to make his next scheduled start Monday against the Astros or if he'll perhaps require a stint on the disabled list. We'll await further details from the Angels on that front. |
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| Apr 15 2018 | Ohtani will not make his scheduled start Sunday against the Royals as the game has been postponed due to the cold, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. He will start Tuesday against the Red Sox, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports. | Much to fantasy owners' dismay, Ohtani will go from facing an exploitable Royals' lineup to now facing the elite Red Sox lineup. He will be followed by Tyler Skaggs and Nick Tropeano on Wednesday and Thursday. |
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| Apr 13 2018 | Ohtani will move up to seventh in the batting order versus Kansas City on Friday, 610 Sports Radio - Kansas City reports. | Ohtani continues to impress at the plate, as he's now hitting 9-for-29 with one triple, three home runs and 11 RBI over six appearances as the club's designated hitter. It's expected that he will get the night off Saturday with his scheduled pitching start coming Sunday. |
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| Apr 12 2018 | Ohtani will once again serve as the Angels' designated hitter for Thursday's series opener in Kansas City, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani will DH for the second straight day after going 1-for-4 with an RBI on Wednesday. Since he isn't scheduled to take the mound again until Sunday, Ohtani may be back in the lineup for Friday's contest as well. Over 24 plate appearances, he's tallied eight hits, three home runs and eight RBI this season. |
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| Apr 12 2018 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a three-run triple and a walk, helping the Angels to a 7-1 victory over the Royals on Thursday. | It's nothing short of unbelievable what the rookie phenom has been doing and whether or not he can continue to put up such elite numbers as both a hitter and on the mound has quickly become easily the most intriguing story in baseball. It's also hard to overstate what it would mean for his fantasy value should he continue to perform both roles so well while only taking up one roster spot. If there's anything diminishing that, it's that he's given off days on either side of his pitching starts, limiting his opportunity to log as many at-bats as a normal everyday player. He told reporters after the Angels' game on Wednesday, however, that he would like to play more as the season progresses, so if the coaching staff eventually obliges he could end up with even more chances to hit. |
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| Apr 10 2018 | Ohtani's next start will come Sunday when the Angels face the Royals, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports. | Ohtani tossed a gem of a game Sunday against the A's, carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning while striking out 12 batters, giving him his second win of the season. Ohtani's upcoming start against the Royals figures to be a favorable matchup, as the Royals rank 29th in the league in terms of runs scored with 26 over eight games. |
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| Apr 10 2018 | Ohtani is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Rangers, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | The Angels have made it clear that Ohtani won't hit the day before or after he pitches, though he was expected to be in the lineup on most other days. Tuesday appears to be an exception, possibly because the Angels face the left-handed Martin Perez. Ohtani also sat against a lefty in the second game of the season, the only other time the Angels have faced a southpaw. They'll face another lefty Wednesday in Matt Moore, so if Ohtani sits again, he'll miss out on the chance to test his power at hitter-friendly Globe Life Park. |
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| Apr 10 2018 | Ohtani will serve as the Angels' designated hitter against the Rangers on Wednesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani was not in the Angels' lineup Tuesday as they faced left-hander Martin Perez -- although he did ground out in a pinch hit appearance -- but will return as the designated hitter for Wednesday's matchup against left-hander Matt Moore. The 23-year-old will next take the mound Sunday against the Royals, which will allow him to potentially be in the lineup for the first three games of the series in Kansas City, as well. |
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| Apr 10 2018 | Ohtani has been battling blisters since the spring but doesn't consider them to be an issue, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani's 2.08 ERA and 18:2 strikeout to walk ratio back up the idea that his blisters are currently a non-issue. Reports of blisters are always potentially worrisome, though, as they can often linger and derail large portions of seasons for pitchers. Rich Hill, Johnny Cueto and Aaron Sanchez all notably battled blisters last season and either missed time or saw their performance decline. For now, there's little reason to worry about Ohtani, and the team is sure to be very careful with their young superstar, but if reports about blisters continue to appear after his next few starts, there could be reason to be wary. |
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| Apr 9 2018 | Ohtani is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers. | Ohtani will get the day off after tossing seven dominant innings against the A's on Sunday, striking out 12 and allowing no runs on just two baserunners. The 23-year-old is off to an incredible start to the season, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA, 0.46 WHIP and 18:2 K:BB across 13 innings while slashing .389/.421/.889 with three homers in 18 at-bats. Justin Upton is starting at designated hitter with Ohtani opening Monday's game on the bench, which opens up a spot for Ryan Schimpf to start in left field. |
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| Apr 9 2018 | Ohtani (2-0) pitched seven scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts to record his second win Sunday against the Athletics. He allowed just one hit and issued a single walk. | It hasn't taken long for Ohtani to live up to the lofty offseason buzz he garnered. He's won both his starts with 18 strikeouts through just 13 innings while also hitting three home runs with seven RBI through just 18 at-bats. Othani's ability to contribute in both pitching and hitting categories adds value unforeseen in past years, and fantasy owners who took the calculated risk on him should be thrilled with his impressive start to the season. |
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| Apr 7 2018 | Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a home run and a walk while starting at DH in Friday's win over Oakland. He hit a home run for a third consecutive game. His third home run traveled the furthest (449 feet) and was his hardest hit (111 mph exit velocity), according to the Orange County Register. | Ohtani has quickly gone from looking overmatched against MLB pitching in spring training (4-for-32) to looking like an all-star hitter in the regular season (he's hitting .389 with a 1.310 OPS). He's the first Angels rookie to homer in his first three games. Ohtani isn't expected to start at DH on Saturday, as he'll be rested the day ahead of his scheduled Sunday start on the mound. |
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| Apr 6 2018 | Ohtani will serve as the Angels' designated hitter for Friday's game against Oakland. | This marks the third straight game that Ohtani will be utilized in the DH role. Over three games in the lineup this season, Ohtani has collected six hits, two home runs and five RBI. Expect him to remain on the bench Saturday as he prepares to start on the mound for Sunday's series finale. |
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| Apr 4 2018 | Ohtani is hitting eighth as the DH in Wednesday's lineup against the Indians, Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times reports. | For the second straight game, Ohtani will be utilized as the Angels' DH. During Tuesday's victory, he went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and a pair of runs scored. He will return to the mound against Oakland on Sunday. |
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| Apr 4 2018 | Ohtani homered for the second consecutive game, part of a 2-for-5 effort with a run scored and two RBI Wednesday against Cleveland. | Ohtani continues to rake, as he now owns a crispy .857 slugging percentage in his first 14 plate appearances. Expect the Angels to continue giving him off days before his scheduled starts, but with the power display against Cleveland -- including today's blast off ace Corey Kluber -- Ohtani is looking like a mighty tempting start as a DH, particularly whenever the Angels are facing a right-handed pitcher. |
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| Apr 4 2018 | Ohtani was in the lineup at DH for the Angels on Wednesday and went 3-for-4 with a three-run home run and two runs scored in a 13-2 romp over Cleveland. | As if there wasn't enough intrigue surrounding the dual-threat sensation, Ohtani wasted no time in adding to the hype with Wednesday's first-inning three-run blast off Josh Tomlin that capped of a six-run opening frame for Los Angeles. The offensive breakout came on the heels of a strong first outing on the mound where he picked up the win against Oakland on Sunday. It remains to be seen if Ohtani can consistently put up performances like that in both of these roles at the major-league level, but so far he's giving fantasy owners every reason to dream about the possibilities. |
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| Apr 3 2018 | Ohtani will next take the mound Sunday against Oakland. | The Angels are clearly being cautious with their prized young starter. They're attempting to keep him on a similar schedule to that which he was on in Japan, where teams use a six-man rotation and have one day off every week, meaning that starters pitch every seven days. They may end up using the rest of their starters as normally as possible, which would mean J.C. Ramirez could start Saturday on four days' rest and jump Ohtani in the rotation. If Ohtani does remain on a schedule which sees him pitching every Sunday, he'll have zero two-start weeks the entire season and will have a ceiling of 27 starts, which his fantasy owners may not be too happy about. |
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| Apr 3 2018 | Ohtani is serving as the Angels' DH and hitting eighth Tuesday against the Indians. | For the second time since the start of the season, Ohtani will be in the Angels' lineup as a hitter. In his first outing, Ohtani went 1-for-5 and struck out once. |
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| Apr 1 2018 | Ohtani (1-0) allowed three runs on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts through six innings in a win Sunday over the Athletics. | He was a bit shaky early, as Matt Chapman touched him up for a three-run home run, but Ohtani showed resolve in his major league debut. He buckled down after the home run to finish with four straight scoreless innings to finish with the quality start and win, all within 92 pitches. Ohtani drew 18 swinging strikes, including five whiffs on just 11 uses of his nasty splitter. If the splitter remains that kind of strikeout tool for Ohtani, the American League should be very afraid. |
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| Mar 31 2018 | Ohtani is out of the lineup Saturday against Oakland, Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group reports. | With Ohtani set to take the mound for his regular-season debut as a pitcher during Sunday's game, he will be held out of any designated hitting duties Saturday. It seems expected that the 23-year-old won't serve as DH in days prior to a scheduled start. |
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| Mar 30 2018 | Ohtani is not in the lineup against the A's on Friday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani went 1-for-5 with a strikeout in the Angels' Opening Day loss to the A's, but will return to the bench with left-hander Sean Manaea taking the mound for Oakland on Friday. It remains to be seen when the 23-year-old will be back at DH for the Angels, but he is slated to make his debut as a starting pitcher in Sunday's series finale with the A's. |
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| Mar 29 2018 | Ohtani is in Thursday's Opening Day lineup against Oakland. He will bat eighth and serve as the designated hitter, Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group reports. | With Ian Kinsler still working his way back from a minor groin injury, Luis Valbuena will man the hot corner and Ohtani draws the start at DH for the first game of the 2018 season. Ohtani is set to make his first start on the mound during Sunday's series finale. |
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| Mar 27 2018 | Ohtani has made the Angels' 25-man roster and will start Sunday at Oakland as the starting pitcher, the Los Angeles Times reports. | Although Ohtani had a rough spring training (27.00 ERA and was 3-for-28 at the plate) he'll begin the season in the majors. He threw more than 80 pitches in an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday and apparently made enough of an impression to stay in the majors. It's not clear when he make his first start at DH. |
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| Mar 18 2018 | The Angels still plan to keep Ohtani in the major leagues to begin the season, despite the rookie's poor results in spring training, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. "Pitching wise, absent a couple pitches each outing completely getting away from him, losing grip or feel, [Ohtani has] been around the strike zone with the majority of his pitches," general manager Billy Eppler said Saturday. "We look at walk rate and strike throwing and the ability to get hitters to swing and miss. As we look at those things, those are the foundation of our evaluative methodologies, and those things are in place." | Ohtani was shelled for seven hits in 1.1 innings in his last start Friday against the Rockies and has surrendered 15 runs against 8.1 total frames this spring, but the Angels remain encouraged by his velocity readings and the 19:3 K:BB he has posted during that span. According to Fletcher, Ohtani is scheduled to take the mound Saturday in what will most likely be a minor-league game, which would make it easier for the Angels to ensure he gets 90-plus pitches. With Ohtani inducing plenty of strikeouts this spring and the Angels seemingly committed to keeping him in the majors as a member of the rotation and part-time designated hitter, he could be worth buying at a discount while his spring ERA has deflated his draft stock. |
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| Mar 16 2018 | Ohtani gave up seven runs and six hits, including two home runs, and was lifted in the second inning of Friday's spring training game against Colorado. Ohtani is not assured of making the 25-man roster, general manager Billy Eppler told Los Angeles Times. "It's too early to make a judgment right now," he said. | Given Ohtani's struggles on the mound (15 earned runs and 18 hits in 8.1 innings) and as a hitter (2-for-20) this spring, it increasingly looks like he could begin the season at Triple-A. Ohtani has likely just two more starts on the mound in spring training to show he's ready for MLB action. Another factor that may keep Ohtani in the minors initially is that his free agency would be pushed back a year if he is in the minors for the first 15 days of the MLB season. |
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| Mar 13 2018 | Ohtani will make his second start of the Cactus League on Friday against the Rockies, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reporrs. | Since giving up a run over 1.1 innings in his professional debut Feb. 24 against the Brewers, Ohtani has seen time at designated hitter for the Angels in the Cactus League while making two starts off the mound against minor-league batters. Friday's outing will mark Ohtani's toughest test to date, as he'll face higher-caliber competition and likely work up to 50 pitches. |
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| Mar 10 2018 | Ohtani has been receiving negative evaluations from scouts on his hitting, Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reports. | Scouts like Ohtani's power but believe there are major holes in his swing. He's expected to be particularly susceptible to curveballs and inside fastballs. The general verdict among scouts is that Ohtani would be best served as a hitter by spending a season in the minor leagues, though with his pitching being major-league ready already, that isn't going to happen. It's not a great report for those who moved Ohtani up on their draft boards in leagues where he's able to be used in both roles, though even if the Angels pulled the plug on him hitting entirely (which isn't likely to happen), it won't be a major hit to his fantasy value, as his primary value was always going to come as a pitcher. |
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| Mar 2 2018 | Ohtani struck out eight of the 12 batters he faced in a "B" game Friday against the Brewers, the Orange County Register reports. | The velocity on Ohtani's fastball sat between 92-96 mph on Friday, while he mixed an impressive array of secondary offerings including a curveball, slider, and splitter. He threw a total of 52 pitches in his second spring start, and while Ohtani allowed four hits, only one -- a double from 2017 Brewers first-round pick Keston Hiura -- was well hit. If the Angels continue to start Ohtani on the schedule if a six-man rotation, he'll likely appear in his next game situation Thursday. |
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| Feb 22 2018 | Ohtani (ankle, elbow) is set to face Milwaukee on Saturday during the Angels' Cactus League contest, Pedro Moura of The Athletic reports. | Ohtani continues to work his way back from a Grade 1 UCL sprain and an ankle procedure he underwent in October. The right-hander is in line to throw a couple innings against the Brewers during his debut, and he should get an opportunity to DH in the following days. Recently, Ohtani was able to throw a live batting practice session as well as receive some time of his own in the batters' box, which signals another step forward in his return to full health. |
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| Feb 17 2018 | Ohtani (ankle, elbow) will not only be available to pinch hit on days where he is not pitching or starting at DH, but he will be available as a pinch runner as well, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. | Ohtani has famously been clocked as an 80-grade runner in the past, so from a pure talent standpoint, he may be the Angels' best pinch-running option late in games. This adds some minor value to his profile in leagues where owners can start him as a hitter. Ohtani will throw two innings of live batting practice Saturday and will hit in live batting practice Tuesday and Wednesday, suggesting that he is close to fully recovered from lingering ankle and elbow issues. |
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| Feb 16 2018 | The Angels hope that Ohtani (ankle, elbow) will be able to make two or three starts per week as a designated hitter, though manager Mike Scioscia noted the 23-year-old's greatest impact will come on the mound, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports. "He's probably going to influence our team more as a pitcher," Scioscia said. "But that's not to say he's not going to have a chance to make a difference on the offensive end, too." | Ohtani, who is easing back to full strength from a Grade 1 UCL sprain and an October ankle procedure, threw his first bullpen session of the spring Thursday and looks on track to be ready for the start of the season. In an effort to make the lefty's transition from Nippon Professional Baseball to the MLB as seamless as possible, Scioscia said the Angels would deploy a six-man rotation to open the season, thereby allowing Ohtani to remain on the once-a-week pitching regimen he used in Japan. Though there's a good chance Ohtani will have his innings capped at some point in the second half if he stays healthy, his 100 mile-per-hour fastball and deep selection of breaking pitches could make him an elite fantasy option right away, at least on a per-start basis. |
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| Feb 15 2018 | Ohtani (ankle, elbow) threw his first official bullpen Thursday, Pedro Moura of The Athletic Los Angeles reports. | Ohtani also took batting practice Wednesday, and the two-way superstar remains on track to be fully operational for the start of spring training. He shouldn't face any restrictions in camp, though the Angels may ultimately choose to monitor his workload seeing as he spent all offseason working his way back from a pair of injuries (an ankle injury that required surgery in October along with a Grade 1 UCL sprain). |
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| Jan 4 2018 | General manager Billy Eppler said Ohtani (ankle, elbow) is scheduled to throw off a mound in the next two weeks, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | Ohtani is steadily ramping up his throwing program as he continues to work his way back from a grade one sprain of his ulnar collateral ligament. The two-way superstar also underwent ankle surgery in October, though the team remains unconcerned about both issues and expect him to be fully ready to go by the start of spring training. |
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| Dec 20 2017 | Ohtani (ankle, elbow) worked out at Nippon-Ham's minor-league facility Wednesday, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports. | This marked Ohtani's first workout in four days, as the two-way superstar reportedly ran, played catch and hit off a machine with no issues. He underwent ankle surgery and had a PRP injection in his right elbow in October, but neither issue is expected to hold him back once pitchers and catchers report. The 23-year-old even said that he's been told his surgically repaired ankle is "healing quickly" following a checkup earlier in the week. While he won't play the outfield in 2018, the Angels confirmed Ohtani is indeed expected to play both ways. |
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| Dec 12 2017 | Ohtani has a first-degree sprain of his right ulnar collateral ligament and underwent a platelet-rich plasma shot in October to treat elbow pain, Yahoo Sports reports. Ohtani is also returning from ankle surgery in October. | A physical obtained by Yahoo Sports also notes that Ohtani will be able to start throwing about a month after receiving the PRP injection. While it sounds like this injury won't keep him from throwing in spring training, it does increase some risk that he could have a setback and further tear his UCL. And while many pitchers play through ligament tears, the PRP may indicate this injury could be more than minor. |
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| Dec 9 2017 | Ohtani (ankle) will not play the outfield in 2018, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports. | While the Angels confirmed that Ohtani will play both ways, GM Billy Eppler said definitively that Ohtani will not play the outfield this upcoming season. It doesn't come as a huge surprise given that Ohtani hasn't played the outfield regularly in several years. He figures to DH a couple times per week, likely pushing Albert Pujols to first base on occasion, while perhaps operating as part of a six-man starting rotation. |
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| Dec 8 2017 | Ohtani (ankle) agreed to sign with the Angels on Friday, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports. | His agent, Nez Balelo, said Ohtani felt a "true bond" with the Angels and saw it as the best environment to develop and attain his career goals. It seems Ohtani will be in line to get some starts at DH when he is not pitching, even with Albert Pujols on the team, as the Angels are pretty well set in the outfield, although he could theoretically get occasional starts over Kole Calhoun in right field. We should get a better idea about how his playing time will shake out once the team begins to comment. As a pitcher, he has SP1 potential right away, and has drawn comparisons to Noah Syndergaard, due to his power fastball/slider combination. As a hitter, Ohtani has monster power and has been clocked as an 80-grade runner, so if he hits, he has legitimate five-category potential. Various websites are handling the two-way star's eligibility differently, so make sure to investigate where he will qualify and how he can be deployed before drafts begin. He had ankle surgery in October but will be ready when pitchers and catchers report. |
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| Dec 4 2017 | Ohtani (ankle) whittled down his list of suitors to seven teams Monday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. | The Japanese phenom is scheduled to meet with the Dodgers, Angels, Padres, Mariners, Giants, Rangers and Cubs as he looks to find a home in the MLB. After the Nippon Ham Fighters officially posted Ohtani on Friday, the 23-year-old pitcher with plus power and baserunning will have a three-week window to sign with a team. Ohtani underwent surgery on his right ankle in October, but it's not believed to be anything that will inhibit him once spring training arrives. |
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| Dec 1 2017 | Ohtani (ankle), who was officially posted Friday, will have until Dec. 22 to reach an agreement with an MLB team, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports. | MLB owners unanimously ratified the new Japanese posting agreement, and now the top two-way player of the era will have three weeks to sign with a club. Ohtani is currently in Los Angeles and is expected to begin meeting with clubs as soon as next week. The three teams with the most international bonus pool money available are the Rangers ($3.535 million), Yankees ($3.5 million) and Twins ($3.07 million), but with all 30 teams relatively close in what they can offer Ohtani, his decision is not likely to be significantly impacted by the money he gets on this initial agreement. He has the potential to be an SP1 immediately, thanks to a Noah Syndergaard-esque power fastball/power slider combination. Additionally, he has plus-plus raw power and has been clocked as an 80-grade runner, so there is seemingly nothing he can't do. That said, some evaluators think he could struggle, at least initially, to hit for a high average, due to a power-oriented approach. Ohtai is believed to desire to pitch and play either the field or DH in the majors. He underwent ankle surgery in October but should be ready for spring training. |
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| Nov 28 2017 | Ohtani (ankle) will be posted by the Nippon-Ham Fighters on Friday, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports. | The race to sign Ohtani will officially begin Friday, and teams will have 30 days to reach an agreement with the two-way superstar. Any team looking to sign him must pay the Nippon-Ham Fighters $20 million, which is the highest possible posting fee. The 23-year-old -- who compiled a .286/.359/.505 slash line with 47 homers over 369 career games and a 2.60 ERA over 522.1 career innings in Nippon Professional Baseball -- figures to be one of the most sought-after international free agents in baseball history. He'll likely be a main focus for most major-league front offices. |
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| Nov 21 2017 | An agreement has been reached between MLBPA, MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball regarding Ohtani's (ankle) posting, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports. | While the details of the deal haven't been confirmed yet, it appears Ohtani will be available to sign with MLB teams as early as Dec. 1. This is massive news, as a move to MLB wasn't guaranteed for the 23-year-old two-way superstar prior to Tuesday's agreement. He figures to be one of the most sought-after international free agents in baseball history. |
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| Nov 21 2017 | An agreement has been reached between the MLBPA, MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball regarding Ohtani's (ankle) posting, Jon Heyman of FanRagSports.com reports. | While the details of the deal haven't been confirmed yet, it appears Ohtani will be available to sign with MLB teams as early as Dec. 1. This is massive news, as a move to the MLB wasn't guaranteed for the 23-year-old two-way superstar prior to Tuesday's agreement. He figures to be one of the most sought-after international free agents in baseball history. |
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| Nov 20 2017 | Ohtani's move to MLB in 2018 is not certain to happen, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. | The MLB Players Union set up a deadline of 8 p.m. ET on Monday for themselves, MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball to come to terms on a new posting agreement. It was reported last week that Ohtani had been posted, but MLBPA's concerns regarding the new posting system could result in the Nippon-Ham Fighters not posting him this season. We should know by the end of the day whether an agreement has been reached that would allow Ohtani to come over this season. |
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| Nov 20 2017 | The MLBPA agreed to extend the deadline for Ohtani's (ankle) posting agreement to 8 p.m. ET on Tuesday. | Initially, the deadline for a posting agreement to be reached had been set for 8 p.m. ET on Monday. However, it didn't look like an agreement would be reached with Nippon Professional Baseball by the initial deadline, so a 24-hour extension was put in place. News regarding the international star's status should be available at some point Tuesday. |
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| Nov 10 2017 | Ohtani will be available this winter after being posted by the Nippon-Ham Fighters on Friday, Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times reports. | Although this was one of the most expected announcements of the offseason, it is now official, and teams will be able to negotiate for the 23-year-old in the near future. At this point, it would be very surprising if Ohtani is not wearing an MLB uniform by the time spring training rolls around. |
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| Nov 10 2017 | Ohtani (knee) will be available this winter after being posted by the Nippon-Ham Fighters on Friday, Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times reports. | Although this was one of the most expected announcements of the offseason, it is now official, and teams will be able to negotiate for the 23-year-old in the near future. At this point, it would be very surprising if Ohtani is not wearing an MLB uniform by the time spring training rolls around. He's coming off ankle surgery but is fully expected to be ready for spring training. |
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| Nov 10 2017 | Ohtani (ankle) will be available this winter after being posted by the Nippon-Ham Fighters on Friday, Dylan Hernandez of The Los Angeles Times reports. | Although this was one of the most expected announcements of the offseason, it is now official, and teams will be able to negotiate for the 23-year-old's services in the near future. At this point, it would be very surprising if Ohtani is not wearing an MLB uniform by the time spring training rolls around. He's coming off ankle surgery in October but is fully expected to be ready for spring training. |
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| Oct 11 2017 | Ohtani will have surgery on his right ankle Thursday, Nikkan Sports reports. | The injury initially occurred in the fall of 2016, and was ultimately the reason behind Ohtani's absence from the World Baseball Classic in March. It's expected that Ohtani will be completely healthy for the start of the new season, which is increasingly likely to be his first with an MLB club if he's posted as expected by the Nippon Ham Fighters this offseason. |
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