ANAHEIM – The two-way star of the Angels Shohei Ohtani threw a 30-pitch session on the main mound at Angel Stadium on Saturday and will be re-evaluated on Sunday to determine when his next start will begin. Angels manager Joe Maddon said the outing could come immediately after Tuesday against Rangers at Angel Stadium.
Ohtani made only one start this season, coming on April 4 against the White Sox as he faced a blister on his right middle finger. But Ohtani threw a light 10-pitch bullpen session on Monday, before throwing 23 pitches into a bullpen on Wednesday. His Saturday came without the use of a finger bandage, which is a good sign for Ohtani, who was checked by head athletics coach Adam Nevela after he threw and left without any problems.
“I heard it was great,” Maddon said. “He came in to check his finger and Adam thought it looked great. So we’ll make our plans tomorrow. If he comes in and he still feels great, we will make our plans at that moment “.
Ohtani, 26, has managed to play as a smoothly designated hitter this season and started off wonderfully offensively. He entered Saturday’s .333 / .370 / .706 game with four homers, three doubles, two triples and 12 RBIs in 13 games.
The angels managed to pass without the Ohtani pitch, because they entered the season with a rotation of six people and made it work without having to resort to any starter. But once Ohtani is healthy and ready to pitch, he will be a normal part of the six-man rotation in the future. He gave up three rounds (one won) of two shots in 4 innings 2/3, with seven shots in his only start this year.
Maddon said he intends to have a long-range improviser behind Ohtani ready when he starts, only if he faces some obstacles with his blister. But Maddon added that it is too early to determine who he will be, as he will continue to monitor the workload of those rescuing him in the coming days.
Rendon is improving, but there is no target date to return
Third baseman Anthony Rendon (left groin strain) is eligible to return to the Rangers’ injury list on Wednesday, but has not yet made progress in baseball activities. It is still too early to know if it will be ready by Wednesday, although Maddon said Rendon has shown some improvement.
“I followed him through his work and he feels better and he feels good,” Maddon said. “It’s one of those things where Adam and the medical staff don’t want a comeback. But he’s doing well. He is very optimistic and very positive. By the beginning of the week, we should have a much better idea of the finish line by Monday or Tuesday. ”
• Right player Juan Lagares (left calf stalk) progressed to easy running and managed to practice the practice of batting without problems. He is also eligible to be reinstated on Wednesday.
• Catcher Max Stassi (left finger strain) still failed to catch again, but threw to keep his arm active. He is eligible to return on Friday against Astros.
• Defender Dexter Fowler is scheduled to meet with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Monday for a consultation after he sustained a broken ACL at the end of the season in his left knee on April 9th. Fowler has not yet scheduled his operation. He expects to return to play in six to nine months after the operation.
• Right-hander Félix Peña has fully recovered from the right hamster stalk, but remains at the club’s alternative venue in Tempe, Ariz. Maddon said he is not yet sure when Peña will be activated, because he likes the current bullpen and is not in a hurry to make any changes. Peña, however, remains out of options, so it must be activated when it is healthy and cannot be opted for at the alternative site.