Maybe Shohei Ohtani is wasting everyone’s time pitching for the Angels?
By John Buhler
It’s not going well for Shohei Ohtani on the mound at all this season.
At least Shohei Ohtani was able to get a few hitters out this time around …
The Los Angeles Angels‘ designated hitter’s return to the mound is not going well at all. His first start since his rookie year in 2018 went over so poorly that he didn’t even record an out. He was so bad he didn’t even have an ERA after his first start of the 2020 MLB season. That stat line deserves to be hidden behind a paywall to protect the young. His second start was just as bad.
While Ohtani did retire a few batters for the Angels, he didn’t get out of the second inning. Ohtani pitched 1.2 innings on Sunday afternoon vs. the Houston Astros. Though he didn’t allow a hit, he walked five batters and allowed two earned runs, while striking out three. He left the game with an absolutely disgusting 37.80 ERA. He is allowing more than four earned runs per inning in 2020.
Angels beat writer for the Orange County Register Jeff Fletcher tweeted out, “Well, at least Ohtani put to rest concerns about being hurt, since he was consistently at 95-97 with his FB today. However, he walked 5 in the 2nd inning and didn’t get out of the inning. After walking in two runs and throwing 42 (!!) pitches in the inning, he was pulled.”
Well, at least Ohtani put to rest concerns about being hurt, since he was consistently at 95-97 with his FB today.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) August 2, 2020
However, he walked 5 in the 2nd inning and didn't get out of the inning. After walking in two runs and throwing 42 (!!) pitches in the inning, he was pulled.
Should Shohei Ohtani even get a third start for the Los Angeles Angels?
Under normal circumstances, yes, Ohtani should get at least a third try to prove what he’s got on the mound. However, the Angels entered play on Sunday afternoon at 3-6 on the year and in fourth place in the American League West. With it being only a 60-game season, Joe Maddon’s club can’t afford any more bad starts out of Ohtani the rest of the way. This is very concerning.
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While Fletcher pointed out the velocity on his fastball was up, you can’t really overlook the five walks he had in the second inning. He walked in two runs and didn’t even throw 50 pitches for Maddon on Sunday. Though the Angels skipper was wise to pull the starting pitcher out of the inning to salvage the game, how sure are we he can even trust Ohtani to give him one more start?
Maddon has a big decision here regarding Ohtani’s effectiveness, or lack thereof, as a pitcher.