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OC Register: A’s sound impressed by Shohei Ohtani as he prepares for pitching encore


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  • Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Blake Treinen, right celebrates with catcher Bruce Maxwell after the Athletics defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Blake Treinen, right celebrates with catcher Bruce Maxwell after the Athletics defeated the Los Angeles Angels 7-3 in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels left fielder Justin Upton misses a line drive hit by Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman for a run-scoring triple during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels left fielder Justin Upton misses a line drive hit by Oakland Athletics’ Matt Chapman for a run-scoring triple during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels’ Luis Valbuena celebrates at the plate after hitting solo home run, with home plate umpire Pat Hoberg watching, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels’ Luis Valbuena celebrates at the plate after hitting solo home run, with home plate umpire Pat Hoberg watching, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien, right, can’t handle the throw from the center field as Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton slides into second for a double during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien, right, can’t handle the throw from the center field as Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton slides into second for a double during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Oakland Athletics’ Jed Lowrie, left, celebrates his solo home run with teammates during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Oakland Athletics’ Jed Lowrie, left, celebrates his solo home run with teammates during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton follows though to hit a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton follows though to hit a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton, right, and Zack Cozart celebrate Upton’s two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels’ Justin Upton, right, and Zack Cozart celebrate Upton’s two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien hits a two-run single against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Oakland Athletics’ Marcus Semien hits a two-run single against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Akeel Morris throws out Oakland Athletics’ Bruce Maxwell on a ground ball during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Akeel Morris throws out Oakland Athletics’ Bruce Maxwell on a ground ball during the third inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Oakland Athletics’ Jake Smolinski (5) and Stephen Piscotty, celebrate scoring on a two-run single by Marcus Semien against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Oakland Athletics’ Jake Smolinski (5) and Stephen Piscotty, celebrate scoring on a two-run single by Marcus Semien against the Los Angeles Angels during the second inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Oakland Athletics second baseman Jed Lowrie, left, and Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Cozart watch as Mike Trout is out at first on the relay for a double play during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Oakland Athletics second baseman Jed Lowrie, left, and Los Angeles Angels’ Zack Cozart watch as Mike Trout is out at first on the relay for a double play during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Andrew Triggs throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Andrew Triggs throws to the plate against the Los Angeles Angels during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher JC Ramirez throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher JC Ramirez throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, poses for a photographer with visually impaired Michael London of Sacramento, Calif, after Trout gave him his bat during warmups before the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, poses for a photographer with visually impaired Michael London of Sacramento, Calif, after Trout gave him his bat during warmups before the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Visually impaired Michael London of Sacramento, Calif., inspects a bat given to him by Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, during warmups before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Visually impaired Michael London of Sacramento, Calif., inspects a bat given to him by Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, during warmups before a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

  • Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, gives his bat to visually impaired Michael London of Sacramento, Calif., with his father Carl London, right, watching during warmups before the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

    Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout, left, gives his bat to visually impaired Michael London of Sacramento, Calif., with his father Carl London, right, watching during warmups before the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)

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ANAHEIM — It’s very, very early, but for now, no MLB hitter has been more successful against Shohei Ohtani than Matt Chapman. That doesn’t mean the A’s third baseman is eager for a rematch — not even with the benefit of seeing the Angels’ two-way phenom on the mound twice in eight days.

“He’s got such good stuff that I don’t know if it’s ever going to be an advantage,” Chapman said Saturday afternoon.

Ohtani made a strong pitching debut in Oakland last Sunday, allowing three runs in a 7-4 win over the A’s. All three came courtesy of Chapman, who sent a slider over the left-center wall. Ohtani only allowed one more runner on base — a walk — before ending his six-inning stint with six strikeouts.

Ohtani did not play on Saturday after blasting three home runs in three games, resting in preparation for his return to the mound. His pitching debut at Angel Stadium is scheduled at 1 p.m. Sunday. And to hear Chapman tell it, he and the rest of the A’s will need to be ready.

“The first time you see somebody, you’re trying to feel it out,” said Chapman, a 24-year-old who looks like a potential star in his own right. “Luckily, I got two of the same pitches in the row. And then the next at-bat, I saw the fastball. It’s got good life. When his splitter’s down, it’s hard to differentiate between the two.”

It was a stark turnaround from his struggles in spring training, which included a shellacking at the hands of the Tijuana Toros. Those issues vanished when Ohtani finally stepped on the big stage.

“I didn’t see any sort of command issue that first start,” said A’s first baseman Matt Olson, who struck out swinging twice against Ohtani. “He was pretty locked in, doing what he wanted.”

Angels manager Mike Scioscia downplayed the strategic significance of Ohtani taking the mound against the A’s twice in a row.

“There’s adjustments that you make whether you’re facing the same team or you’re facing a different team,” Scioscia said. “They got a chance to see Shohei last Sunday. He got a chance to log what their hitters are doing.

“But they made adjustments during the game last Sunday also. I think it’s just part of the schedule.”

CALLED UP

The Angels optioned starting pitcher Parker Bridwell on Saturday, an unsurprising development after he allowed six runs in 1-2/3 innings the night before.

Left with a thin bullpen after Friday night’s win over the A’s, the Angels called up right-hander Akeel Morris — whom they’d acquired from the Braves on Tuesday. Morris, 25, logged a 1.23 ERA in 7-1/3 innings for Atlanta last year.

“Hopefully he’ll give us a boost to the bullpen, which is right now been stretched a little bit,” Scioscia said.

The Angels now have just four starting pitchers, which means they will need to add two more for next week’s road series against the Rangers. Possible additions include lefty Andrew Heaney, who is on the disabled list with elbow inflammation, and Nick Tropeano.

“He’ll throw his bullpen in couple of days,” Scioscia said of Heaney, who made a rehab start on Friday for Class-A Inland Empire. “We’ll evaluate what his next step is.”

The Angels also sent Nolan Fontana to Triple-A Salt Lake for Ryan Schimpf, an infield switch that could be explained by the latter’s bat. Schimpf has a .492 slugging percentage in the last two years, compared to Fontana’s .182.

“One thing he’s got is, he’s got big power,” Scioscia said of Schimpf. “He’s able to play three infield positions and both corner outfields. We’ll see how he walks in, but he gives us a lot of depth because of his versatility.”

KINSLER OPTIMISTIC

Second baseman Ian Kinsler wants to come off the 10-day disabled list as soon as possible, but also knows that his isn’t the only voice in the room.

The 35-year-old veteran said his strained groin is no longer limiting him, and that he would be “ecstatic” to get back in the lineup when he’s eligible Tuesday. Still, he acknowledged that the Angels want to reduce the risk of a potential re-injury.

“They just want to make sure I’m 100 percent, strong, and can handle playing a bunch of games in a row,” Kinsler said.

Scioscia echoed some of Kinsler’s optimism, but would not go as far as saying he expected a Tuesday return.

“We’re hopeful we’re getting close,” he said. “It’s tough to put an end point on it.”

UP NEXT

A’s (RHP Kendall Graveman, 0-1, 8.10 ERA) at Angels (RHP Shohei Otani, 1-0, 4.50), Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox Sports West, 830 AM

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