OC Register: Angels keep Shohei Ohtani out of the lineup, but have little concern about his injury

[AngelsWin.com]

CHICAGO — Shohei Ohtani was not in the Angels lineup on Monday, but the team seems to have little concern that his groin tightness is anything serious, although they still aren’t sure when he will pitch.

Athletic trainer Mike Frostad said on Monday morning that Ohtani’s injury was not even significant enough for the Angels to send him for an MRI. Ohtani was available to be used as a pinch-hitter on Monday, Frostad said.

“It wasn’t that big of a concern for us,” Frostad said.

Ohtani felt tightness in his right groin while running down the line in the seventh inning on Sunday, and he was removed from the game. Ohtani told reporters after the game that he expected to play on Monday.

The Angels decided to be more cautious, though.

“We’re just keeping him out for one more day right now and we’ll see how he continues to progress,” Frostad said.

Manager Joe Maddon said that his concern about Ohtani was “not heavy right now. I talked to him and (interpreter Ippei Mizuhara) last night and it sounds OK. Let’s just wait and see. I’m always an optimistic person.”

Ohtani had been in line to start on the mound on Tuesday in Boston, but the Angels re-inserted Noah Syndergaard into that spot. Syndergaard had been scratched from his previous turn with an illness.

Maddon said he hopes Ohtani will be well enough to pitch either Wednesday or Thursday in Boston. One of the contributing factors is that the weather forecast for Wednesday is bad. The Angels may not want to use Ohtani for a game that could have rain delays.

Left-hander Reid Detmers was originally scheduled for Wednesday, so he could pitch whichever game in Boston that Ohtani doesn’t.

“We’re just going to wait a day or two to figure that out,” Maddon said of putting Ohtani back into the rotation.

ROSTER SHUFFLING

Right-handers Andrew Wantz and Elvis Peguero, who were both optioned to get the roster from 28 to 26, remained with the team as part of the taxi squad.

The Angels also brought utility players Luis Rengifo and Jose Rojas to town as part of the taxi squad, which also includes catcher Matt Thaiss.

Maddon called them “JIC’s, just in case.”

When the Angels are in Boston, it will be more difficult logistically to get a player from Triple-A if they need someone on short notice.

Related Articles

• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels avoid disaster by clinging to victory over the White Sox
• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels send down struggling starter José Suarez
• Los Angeles Angels |
  José Suarez struggles as Angels’ winning streak ends
• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels’ Jo Adell playing less due to string of right-handed pitchers
• Los Angeles Angels |
  Angels use bullpen game to beat White Sox for 6th straight win

NOTES

Anthony Rendon got the day off on Monday, the third time he’s been given a rest day so far this season. He missed another game with an illness. Maddon said he wants to go easy on Rendon as he comes back from hip surgery. “To push him right now just doesn’t seem like the right thing to do,” Maddon said. …

David Fletcher also had a day off. Fletcher had played all three games since coming back from a hip injury, and he conceded that he will have to deal with some issues. Frostad said it’s “something we’re going to have to manage throughout the course of the year. … There’s going to be days where he needs some time off. A day game like this is perfect. It gives him a little bit of extra rest going into a night game in Boston.” …

Right-hander Griffin Canning (back) is expected to begin facing hitters next week, Frostad said. Canning has been throwing bullpen sessions for a couple weeks. He is not eligible to be activated until June 6. …

Left-hander José Quijada (oblique) has started throwing, Frostad said.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Noah Syndergaard, 2-0, 2.12) at Red Sox (RHP Michael Wacha, 2-0, 1.77), Tuesday, 4:10 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

View the full article