Ohtani pulled by Angels after four scoreless innings with cramps in pitching hand

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani was pulled from the mound by the Los Angeles Angels after solely 4 innings Thursday evening resulting from cramping in his pitching hand and fingers.

The two-way celebrity pitched scoreless three-hit ball with 4 strikeouts in opposition to the Seattle Mariners, and he had thrown solely 59 pitches. Ohtani additionally had issues with cramps throughout the Angels’ just-completed journey, leaving consecutive video games early with lower-body cramping.

Ohtani remained within the recreation at Angel Stadium because the Halos’ designated hitter.

The begin was Ohtani’s shortest of the season, not counting a two-inning outing in Boston brought on by a prolonged rain delay. He hadn’t pitched fewer than 5 innings in another mound begin since August 2022.

After Ohtani walked and superior to 3rd because the Angels’ designated hitter within the fourth, Jose Soriano relieved Ohtani on the mound to start the fifth. Ohtani additionally singled in his first at-bat in opposition to Seattle’s Bryan Woo.

Ohtani struggled with a finger blister and a fingernail drawback for a couple of begins earlier within the season, however these issues gave the impression to be gone final week when he threw a one-hitter in Detroit for his first main league shutout. He now has thrown 13 consecutive scoreless innings.

Ohtani is the frontrunner for his second AL MVP award after successful his second straight AL Player of the Month award this week.