Angels shut down Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher: ‘There’s really nothing left to prove on the mound’

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani, the frontrunner for the AL MVP award, is not going to pitch once more this season, supervisor Joe Maddon advised reporters earlier this week. Ohtani will proceed to DH, nonetheless. The Angels at the moment record TBA as their starter for Sunday’s common season finale, which is Ohtani’s spot. With the crew already eradicated from postseason competition, there is not any must push him.

This is what Maddon advised reporters, via ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez:

“There’s actually nothing left to show on the mound,” Maddon stated from Globe Life Subject in Arlington, Texas, earlier than the Angels’ 7-2 win over the Rangers. “He is exceeded expectations on the mound this 12 months. Anybody who thought he would’ve gone 130 innings and put up these form of numbers — strikeouts to walks, ERA, every thing that he is carried out — I believe that is adequate. I actually do.”  

Ohtani will end the season with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts in 23 begins and 130 1/3 innings as a pitcher. He allowed two runs or fewer in 17 of these 23 begins and completed sturdy, holding the Athletics and Mariners to a few runs in 15 innings in his final two begins.  Ohtani ranks seventh amongst American League pitchers with 4.1 WAR.

The choice to not begin Ohtani on Sunday is smart (there is no such thing as a upside in any respect for the Angels) and it might have an effect on the postseason race. The Angels shut their season in opposition to the Mariners, who come into Thursday solely a half-game behind the second wild-card spot. If Seattle remains to be alive Sunday, they will not face Ohtani, and can as a substitute face a lesser pitcher.

On the plate, Ohtani owns a .258/.370/.590 batting line with 45 dwelling runs. He is additionally stolen 26 bases and leads the league with seven triples. Ohtani leads all gamers with 8.9 WAR. He’s greater than a full win forward of second place Zack Wheeler (7.7 WAR) and almost two wins forward of Marcus Semien (7.2 WAR), who’s in second place within the American League.

The Angels are 75-83 with 4 video games remaining. They haven’t completed with a profitable document since 2015 or certified for the postseason since 2014. Ohtani recently made it clear he wants to win and is disappointed with the team’s season.