Shohei Ohtani to miss next start on the mound due to arm fatigue as Angels’ struggles continue following club’s controversial decision against trading two-way sensation at the deadline

  • Shohei Ohtani will miss his next scheduled pitching start due to arm fatigue
  • The Angels had the opportunity to trade him at the August 1 deadline, but didn’t 
  • DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news

By Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For Dailymail.com and Associated Press

Shohei Ohtani will miss his next scheduled pitching start due to arm fatigue, as the Los Angeles Angels’ decision against trading the two-way sensation at the deadline continues to look worse by the day.

Angels skipper Phil Nevin told reporters Sunday that Ohtani is not injured and will return to the rotation during a series at home against the Reds that begins August 21.

‘I’ve told you guys many times he knows his body better than anybody,’ Nevin said.

‘I trust him when he talks about it. He’s assured me there’s no pain, there’s no injury. He’s got some regular arm fatigue that some go through at times. I trust him when he tells me this and he’ll be ready for his next time out.’

Nevin said Ohtani told him Saturday that he needed to take a start off. The right-hander will not take any time off as the team’s designated hitter.

Shohei Ohtani will miss his next scheduled pitching start due to arm fatigue

Shohei Ohtani will miss his next scheduled pitching start due to arm fatigue

‘He feels good at the plate,’ Nevin said. ‘He feels healthy swinging at bat. It’s just the [throwing] right now, he’s got some normal arm fatigue that happens at times.’

Ohtani is 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 22 starts this season. He is hitting .305 with an American League-leading 40 homers and 83 RBIs.

The Angels surprised many in baseball by being buyers in the days before the August 1 trade deadline, rather than dealing their soon-to-be free agent, Ohtani. With potential suitors such as the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees already eyeing Ohtani this winter, many believed the up-and-down Angels would deal Ohtani to add a few prospects heading into next season.

Instead, the Angels held on to Ohtani, and instead traded their own minor leaguers for Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, who has struggled in three starts for LA (9.00 ERA). Worst of all, the Angels have gone 2-9 in August, while dropping to 6.5 games out of the American League wildcard heading into Sunday’s action.

:

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk