Here’s the latest on some injury situations from around the game…
- Shohei Ohtani will be available as a DH for the Angels’ upcoming series against the Orioles (from Tuesday to Thursday) but his next start on the mound won’t be until next weekend in Seattle at the earliest, manager Mike Scioscia told MLB.com’s Maria Guardado and other reporters. Ohtani suffered a minor ankle injury while trying to beat out a grounder on Friday, and the team will hold Ohtani out of a scheduled start against the O’s in order to make sure the ankle is completely healed. Ohtani’s availability against Baltimore indicates that the injury isn’t too serious, though he wasn’t in the lineup on Saturday or Sunday.
- Carlos Gonzalez is likely to be activated from the Rockies’ disabled list on Monday, the Athletic’s Nick Groke reports (Twitter link). Gonzalez was placed on the DL with a hamstring strain and was eligible to be activated today, so he’ll end up missing slightly more than the 10-day minimum. The veteran outfielder had managed only a .235/.264/.426 slash line over his first 72 PA of the season as Gonzalez tries to rebound from a disappointing 2017 campaign.
- Some Giants DL updates are provided by The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly (on Twitter), who notes that Madison Bumgarner could be cleared on Tuesday to play catch, while Mark Melancon is now throwing from 90 feet as the closer continues his recovery from a bothersome pronator. More immediately, left-hander Will Smith is likely to be activated from the DL on Wednesday, making his return to MLB after missing all of 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery.
- The Mets will skip Steven Matz’s next turn in the rotation since the southpaw is dealing with some minor back stiffness. Rather than start on Tuesday as scheduled, Matz will instead pitch on Saturday. He told MLB.com’s Tim Powers and other reporters that he has dealt with the injury before and is “feeling good” following a bullpen session today, though he and the team are just being cautious to avoid a larger issue. No rotation replacement will be needed, as the Mets don’t play on Monday.
I’m curious what Angels fans think of Ohtani as a starting pitcher? Do you all see him as a player who should stick solely to the field or do you see him still as a 2-way player?
As and Angel fan has pitching has not impressed me much. His hitting as been pretty good. If I had to go with one or the other, in my opinion I’d say hit. What concerns me is the organization. I don’t think they are smart enough on how to us him, this signing might have been over their head. Either way…. Ohtani or no Ohtani this team is not going anywhere.
He’s proven he can do both. He handled the Astros his last start well, considering do to a rainout and scheduling, he started with nine days off.
He’s proven himself as a two way player.
He wouldn’t be doing both if Soscia thought he couldn’t.
Everyone out of spring training thought minors.
They know better. With a regular routine, he will.
I guarantee part of the negotiations to land Ohtani on that absurdly under-market contract were that the organization would commit to him as a pitcher. From watching two of his starts, one good and one not good, he doesn’t seem to trust his stuff. And he really needs a third pitch; he has this little show-me curve that could be effective if he mixed it in better. He was an elite pitcher in Japan, and he’s 23. While Japan is not the majors, his stuff should translate well. The hitting seems to be mostly raw power and bat speed; he doesn’t have a great approach, but, again, he’s 23.
The pitching is the stronger part of his game. He had had to adjust to a different ball, different mound/dirt, and capricious strike zones from various umpires.
He’s 23 and still learning, but his mechanics are for the most part remarkable in the consistency. The second start vs OAK was remarkable, especially against a strong offensive team. The blister vs Red Sox was a disappointment, but was the only poor start.
Basically, it is easier to find a 7-day player who can hit as well as Ohtani than it is to find an every 5th day pitcher who can go out and dominate as he has already this year. If forced to choose, I’d keep the pitcher. However, his bat and speed on the bases make it a tough choice.
For right now, he’s doing both very well.
I wonder how Seattle fans will great Ohtani next weekend.
Should be a great series. If things hold, it’ll be Leake, Gonzales, and Felix. I think it’ll come down to the bullpen. With Altavilla (who has been relatively good, as long as his control stays well, which for the most part has (but when he is off, he is OFF). Once we get to the 7th with Vincent, then Juan, then Diaz, I think that’s what it will come down too. Unless we can get some solid, early runs against their starters which is also a very real possibility.
He can throw 100mph(101, even). He’s pitched 7 shutout. He’s only thrown what? 5 times. He’ll get better. What he probably should have done was sign with the Cubs and Joe Maddon would have been very creative in Maximizing his versatility! OF, 1B, and I think as a closer would be his optimal value. Hit all game and close it out on the bump. Only sees the lineup once. Hopefully less. And maybe just as a regular reliever. It sure would be fun JoeMadd plug n play this guy EVERYWHERE! He’ll be in thee somewhere most days
My god man, have some self respect & get off your knees
I don’t think he’d ever play the field; I doubt any NL team was seriously in the running for Ohtani. He didn’t play the field his last two seasons in Japan.
Man shut up. Not everything is about the cubs.
Hey Moreno keep the progress going prepare to make a bold move. We were 13-3 and 16-12 it’s time