Shohei Ohtani Inches Closer To Angels' Lineup Return Amid Playoff Push

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is on the cusp of making a comeback to the Los Angeles Angels' lineup, having engaged in batting cage sessions and other baseball-related activities on Thursday.

This promising development comes after Ohtani suffered a strain to his right oblique muscles earlier in the week, sidelining him for several games.

Although he wasn't featured in the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive game against the Cleveland Guardians, Angels' manager Phil Nevin hinted at the possibility of Ohtani being available as a pinch-hitter.

Photo: Instagram/Shohei Ohtani

Nevin conveyed his optimism about Ohtani's imminent return, despite the setback in his pitching season. Ohtani had expressed eagerness to return to action only a day after sustaining the oblique injury during batting practice, but the Angels' caution prevailed. According to Nevin, the utmost priority is ensuring Ohtani's complete recovery, given the risk associated with oblique muscle injuries.

Ohtani continues to dominate the race for his second AL MVP award in three years, boasting 44 home runs (just two shy of the MLB lead), 95 RBIs (ranking sixth in the majors), and a league-leading 1.066 OPS. However, the Angels have been in a downward spiral, losing six consecutive games and 13 out of their last 16, which has pushed them out of the AL playoff contention.

Despite earlier season-ending pitching injuries, Ohtani remains determined to contribute as a hitter. Meanwhile, another significant development for the Angels is the progress of Anthony Rendon, who took swings off a tee on Thursday.

This marked Rendon's first announced baseball activity since sustaining a deep bone bruise on his leg on July 4th, and it offers a glimmer of hope for his return to the lineup.

Read Next: Dodgers' Mookie Betts Leaves Stadium On Crutches After Win

Source: AP News 

Comments

Post a Comment

Trending Now

Liam Payne's Cause of Death Revealed In Preliminary Autopsy

Image
Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) Liam Payne , former member of the boy band One Direction, passed away after falling from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  A preliminary autopsy has revealed that he died from severe injuries and both internal and external bleeding. Payne, 31, fell from the CasaSur Palermo Hotel balcony on Wednesday. He reportedly fell from about 43 to 46 feet onto an internal patio. According to authorities, Payne was alone at the time, and there is speculation that he may have been experiencing a drug-related incident. Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) A hotel staff member had called emergency services before the fall, expressing concern about Payne's condition. They mentioned that he had taken drugs and alcohol, and they were worried he might harm himself. Payne rose to fame with One Direction in 2010 after the group formed on the TV show The X Factor . After the band split in 2015, Payne pursued a solo career, with his most popular song being "Strip Tha
Read More

Travis Kelce Predicts Criticism if Chiefs Lose, Mentions Taylor Swift

Image
Photo: Travis Kelce (Instagram) Travis Kelce , the star player for the Kansas City Chiefs, says he expects people to criticize him and Taylor Swift if his team loses a game. On his podcast "New Heights," Kelce shared his thoughts about the pressure that comes with being undefeated.  He said that if the Chiefs lose, people will come down hard on him. "I've just got to keep winning," he said. "If we lose a game, it’s going to rain down on me." The Chiefs are currently 5-0 and are set to play the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday, in a rematch of Super Bowl LVIII.  Despite some injuries, the team is doing well, and Kelce has faced some early criticism for a slow start . However, Pat McAfee, a former NFL player and podcast guest, praised Kelce and his relationship with Taylor Swift. McAfee said it was great for the sport and called Kelce a perfect example of how to represent the NFL. Photo: Travis Kelce (Instagram) Taylor Swift has been seen at three of the
Read More

Anthony Edwards Talks About Leadership And MVP Dreams

Image
Photo: Anthony Edwards (Instagram) Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards recently shared his thoughts on the leadership styles of NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant . Edwards, often compared to Jordan because of their similar playing style, has a different view on how to lead a team. In an interview with Chris Tucker for Interview Magazine , Edwards said leadership in today’s NBA has changed. "You can’t talk to everyone the same," Edwards explained. "Some players you can be tough on, but others need a softer approach. You can’t cuss everyone out in front of the team." Edwards has spoken before about how Jordan was the standout player of his era, which led to some reactions from NBA stars like Magic Johnson and Kevin Garnett . Photo: Anthony Edwards (Instagram) As the Timberwolves prepare for the new season, Edwards has his sights set on winning the MVP award. “For sure, no question, I’m going for MVP,” he told NBA TV. “I’ve got a great team and coac
Read More

Former One Direction Singer Liam Payne Dead at 31 After Fall In Argentina

Image
Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) Liam Payne, former member of the boy band One Direction, has died at the age of 31. Payne was found dead at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, after falling from his balcony, according to local officials. Police responded to an emergency call about a man behaving aggressively, possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Shortly after they arrived, Payne was found in the hotel courtyard, having fallen from a height of about 42 to 45 feet. Emergency services confirmed his death shortly after 5 p.m. Alberto Crescenti, head of Argentina’s emergency medical services, said the injuries were severe and could not be survived. Authorities are investigating the circumstances, including whether Payne’s fall was accidental or intentional. Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) Payne had been in Argentina recently, supporting his former bandmate Niall Horan at a concert. He leaves behind a 7-year-old son, Bear, whom he shares with singer Cheryl Cole. Li
Read More

Katy Perry's Career Struggles: Is Orlando Bloom To Blame?

Image
Photo: Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom (Instagram) Katy Perry's recent attempt to return to the top of the music charts has not gone as planned. According to insiders, her husband, actor Orlando Bloom, may have played a part in the setback. Perry, 39, has faced criticism for her latest album 143 , which was released on September 20. Fans and critics alike have been underwhelmed by both the album and her performances. A source told Life & Style  magazine that Perry's decision to focus more on her sex appeal was encouraged by Bloom, but it hasn't worked out as hoped. "Katy's fans expected more from her, and this album didn’t deliver," the source shared. "Orlando thought it was a good idea, but now Katy is dealing with negative reviews and a lack of excitement from her fans." Photo: Katy Perry (Instagram) The album’s lead single, Woman’s World , failed to make a big impact, peaking at No. 63 on the Billboard charts. Perry, who once dominated the pop world
Read More

LeBron James On Playing With Steph Curry: Will They Team Up Again?

Image
Photo: Stephen Curry, LeBron James (Instagram) LeBron James , star of the Los Angeles Lakers, recently shared his thoughts on playing alongside Stephen Curry . The two NBA greats teamed up earlier this year during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games as part of Team USA, helping lead the team to a gold medal . It was the first time they had played on the same team in their careers. This week, James and Curry will face each other again, but this time as rivals. The Lakers and Golden State Warriors will play two preseason games — one on Tuesday at the Crypto.com Arena and another on Friday at the Chase Center. James and Curry have a long history, having faced each other in the NBA Finals for four straight years when James played for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Curry's Warriors won three of those matchups, while James and the Cavaliers claimed one victory. Photo: Stephen Curry, LeBron James (Instagram) Over the years, their relationship has grown from rivals to friends, with James even acting as
Read More

Beterbiev Ordered To Face IBF Mandatory Challenger

Image
Photo: Artur Beterbiev (Instagram) Artur Beterbiev has been told he must defend his IBF light-heavyweight title against his mandatory challenger. This announcement comes just one day after Dmitry Bivol asked for an immediate rematch with Beterbiev. Beterbiev, 39, became the first boxer to hold all four major belts in the light-heavyweight division after winning a close fight against Bivol on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The judges scored the match 114-114, 115-113, and 116-112 in favor of Beterbiev, a decision that has faced criticism from Bivol's promoter, Eddie Hearn, and manager, Vadim Kornilov. Bivol, 33, has formally requested the support of the WBO, WBA, IBF, and WBC to help him secure a rematch. However, the IBF has now ordered Beterbiev to start negotiations with German fighter Michael Eifert, who is the mandatory challenger. Photo: Artur Beterbiev (Instagram) This does not mean a rematch is off the table. The IBF has stated that Beterbiev can ask for an exception to f
Read More

Joker Sequel Drops $33M at Box Office

Image
Photo: Lady Gaga (Instagram) The movie Joker: Folie à Deux  had a tough second weekend at the North American box office, with earnings falling from $40 million to just $7.1 million. That’s an 80% drop, a record for a comic-book movie. The sequel was beaten by Terrifier 3 , an indie horror film, which made $18.2 million. In second place was the animated movie The Wild Robot  with $13.4 million. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice  dropped to fourth with $7 million. Critics have mixed feelings about Joker: Folie à Deux , starring Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga . Some call it "bleak and daring," while others say it’s "depressingly dull." Photo: Lady Gaga (Instagram) In fifth place was Piece by Piece , a comedy-drama made with Lego animation. It features voices from stars like Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, and Gwen Stefani. Meanwhile, The Apprentice , a film about Donald Trump , opened in tenth place with $1.6 million. It tells the story of Trump’s early years as a property developer in New Y
Read More

LeBron James’ Former Teammate Reveals Why He Nicknamed Him 'Heaven Sent'

Image
Photo: LeBron James (Instagram) In a recent episode of the "All the Smoke" podcast, former NBA player Mateen Cleaves shared how he came up with the nickname “Heaven Sent” for LeBron James . Cleaves explained that he thought of the name after watching LeBron play during his rookie season. When asked about LeBron's first year, Cleaves said, "It was different. I gave him the nickname Heaven Sent because he was so good right from the start. I thought, 'He can't be that good.' But then, practicing with him, I realized he was the real deal. He had an amazing feel for the game and could do anything he wanted on the court." Cleaves played in the NBA for six seasons, including one year with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he saw LeBron shine. While many basketball stars take years to reach their peak, LeBron made an immediate impact. Standing 6'9" and coming out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, he drew comparisons to legends like Magic Johnson an
Read More

Liam Payne Regretted Negative Comments About One Direction Bandmates

Image
Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) Liam Payne , former member of One Direction, expressed regret over harsh comments he made about his bandmates before his unexpected death at 31 on October 16. Payne had criticized Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, and Louis Tomlinson in a 2022 podcast interview with Logan Paul .  However, in July 2023, Payne apologized in a YouTube video, explaining his remarks were due to frustration with his career. He also shared that he spent 100 days in rehab to work on himself. "I took shots at everybody else, which was wrong," Payne said, adding that his bandmates helped him when he needed it most. Photo: Liam Payne (Instagram) In a 2019 interview, Payne opened up about relying on alcohol to cope with the pressures of fame. While he had great memories with the band, he admitted that their relationships sometimes felt "a little bit toxic." Despite this, Payne remained grateful for his time with the group. Payne had mixed feelings about Zayn M
Read More