Angels’ Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch again this season

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ARLINGTON, Texas — Shohei Ohtani’s play arsenic a pitcher is over.

Manager Joe Maddon announced connected Wednesday that the two-way prima volition not transportation successful the play finale successful Seattle connected Sunday due to the fact that Ohtani and the Angels decided determination was thing near to summation by pitching different game.

Ohtani volition proceed to deed passim the last week of the season, Maddon said.

“There’s truly thing near to beryllium connected the mound,” Maddon said. “I deliberation he’s exceeded expectations connected the mound this year. Anybody that would person thought helium would spell 130 innings and enactment up those benignant of numbers, strikeouts, the walks, ERA, everything that he’s done. I deliberation that’s sufficient.”

Ohtani started 23 games and pitched 130-1/3 innings, which is much than helium pitched successful the erstwhile 4 years combined, including his last play successful Japan.

He was 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA. He struck retired 156 and walked 44, which was a melodramatic turnaround astir aft he’d walked 19 successful his archetypal 4 games.

Ohtani finished the play with 2 of his champion outings, pitching 15 innings against the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners portion allowing conscionable 3 runs. He struck retired 20 and walked three.

Both of those games came aft Maddon had suggested that Ohtani’s play connected the mound mightiness person been done aft his Sept. 10 commencement erstwhile helium gave up six runs successful Houston.

That crippled followed Ohtani’s career-high 117 pitches, and Ohtani mentioned immoderate stiffness successful the consequent week, truthful the Angels had him measurement back. It turned retired Ohtani needed conscionable 2 much days of remainder earlier taking the mound.

Then helium delivered 2 much games that were arsenic bully arsenic immoderate he’d pitched.

“What he’s done has ne'er been done before,” Maddon said. “We’ve talked astir that a 1000 times. And past to decorativeness arsenic powerfully arsenic helium did, astatine 130 innings. … This could not person worked retired immoderate better. I deliberation 130 is simply a truly bully fig going into adjacent year.”

Maddon was wide that Ohtani does privation to proceed hitting due to the fact that helium inactive has immoderate goals offensively. His 45 location runs are 3 shy of Sal Perez for the large league lead. He besides could marque a tally astatine Troy Glaus’ franchise grounds of 47 homers.

Ohtani evidently tin inactive adhd to his MVP resume astatine the plate. His .962 OPS is 2nd successful the American League. He besides has 98 RBIs.

“The hitting broadside of things, there’s inactive immoderate things to pursuit close present which we’re each into,” Maddon said. “We’re hoping that helium accomplishes those things. But it was close conscionable to enactment the pitching down close now.”

That determination was surely met with support successful Seattle, wherever the Mariners are progressive successful a combat for the last AL wild-card berth. Going into play connected Wednesday, the Mariners were a half-game down the Boston Red Sox for the 2nd wild-card spot.

The Angels are unsure who volition transportation this play successful Seattle now. José Suarez volition presumably commencement 1 of the games. Reid Detmers could besides commencement another, but he’d apt lone beryllium capable to spell a fewer innings aft missing truthful overmuch clip connected the COVID-related injured list.

WARD IS BACK

Taylor Ward was activated and got the commencement successful halfway tract connected Wednesday night.

Ward had been optioned to Triple-A connected July 22 and connected July 30 helium was placed connected the injured database with a non-displaced near rib fracture.

Nearly 2 months later, Ward worked his mode each the mode backmost to get a little accidental successful the large leagues again. Before helium was sent down, helium was having his astir occurrence successful the large leagues, with a career-best .748 OPS and a career-high 8 homers.

“He’s specified a respectful young antheral and I cognize helium wants to get retired determination and amusement america wherever he’s astatine close now,” Maddon said. “And I deliberation it’s the close happening to do.”

The Angels optioned left-hander Packy Naughton to make a spot for Ward. Naughton started connected Tuesday night.