Shohei Ohtani throws a gem, but Angels give little help in loss to Dodgers

Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani delivers a pitch.

Staff Writer

June 21, 2023 10:01 PM PT

Shohei Ohtani was sharp in seven innings on the mound against the Dodgers on Wednesday, deviating from his typical sweeper-heavy pitch mix.

In relying heavily on his fastball while also mixing in a lot of his cutter — really more of a vertical slider for him — Ohtani held the the Dodgers to one run, striking out 12. The two-way star ultimately was the losing pitcher, neither receiving nor contributing run support in the Angels’ 2-0 loss at Angel Stadium.

Ohtani always has a game plan, though it can shift based on tendencies of each batter. But his success on the mound Wednesday, a game in which he did not walk his leadoff batter and produced his first double-digit strikeout game since May 27, was attributed to just feeling good. It’s why he went heavy on his fastball, which topped out at 100.3 mph.

“I definitely felt way better this time than last time,” Ohtani said in Japanese through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “I felt the most comfortable on the mound so far this year.”

What Ohtani said he wanted was to keep feeling on the mound the way he did Wednesday.

“That’s the key,” Ohtani said. “Of course it’s hard, there’s going to be days in between, but I need to stay focused and try to repeat what I did today.

“Feel really good from the bullpen today and I was able to transition that to the game,” he added. “And it’s hard to explain in words, but like I said, I felt good today. So I need to continue that going forward.”

Ohtani started the season on the mound as strong as he had in finishing 2022. He had a series of games in which he walked leadoff batters. But his first five starts, which he pitched to a thin 0.64 ERA, were always his to dominate. Then there was a rut when he had a 4.88 ERA over eight starts.

He started to pitch better in Texas during the Angels’ recent road series against the Rangers, a quality start that resulted in a win.

Wednesday was even better.

“He was awesome,” manager Phil Nevin said. “I thought he threw a terrific game.”

Urshela likely done for season

Angels infielder Gio Urshela (pelvis fracture) met with another specialist, and the news he received, manager Phil Nevin said, was good, all things considered.

“He does not need surgery on it, but it’s still going to be quite some time,” Nevin said.

Urshela must spend six weeks keeping his body weight off the injury. After that, it will be another six weeks of building up to baseball activities.

“In essence, he’s probably done for the year,” Nevin said.

Urshela was signed in the offseason with the thought he could play somewhere in the infield. In his 62 games, he was the only Angel to play all four infield positions. He was batting .299 with a .703 on-base-plus-slugging rate.

Angels' Gio Urshela bats against the Houston Astros.

As a natural third baseman, Urshela was a particularly valuable offseason acquisition because he could step in when Anthony Rendon needed a day off or a stint on the injured list. Urshela played more than half of his games (37) at third base.

Rendon (left wrist contusion) went on the 10-day IL on Monday, getting hurt in the same game as Urshela. For now, the Angels’ big league options at third base are Luis Rengifo, Brandon Drury and Kevin Padlo. There is no update on Rendon’s timeline to return.

More injury updates

Nevin said he was encouraged with veteran left-handed relief pitcher Matt Moore’s bullpen session before Wednesday’s game. The plan is for Moore (oblique strain) to travel to Colorado with the team and throw either another bullpen session or a simulated game Saturday.

If he feels fine after that, he could be activated during the next homestand. Moore went on the 15-day IL on May 28, retroactive to May 25.

Rookie right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (ulnar neuritis) still has some soreness in his wrist, Nevin said, but when that subsides, the team can work out a throwing program. Joyce, who went on the 15-day IL on June 10, has been responding to treatments and progressing as well as hoped.

Rookie catcher Logan O’Hoppe (torn labrum) started playing light catch on the field Tuesday and did so again before Wednesday’s game, the latest progression of his injury recovery. He’ll rest Thursday, then continue the same cycle — light catch for two days and rest one day.

“I woke up with a smile on my face because I feel like I can actually do something now,” O’Hoppe said Wednesday.

There was still no word on whether O’Hoppe, who was expected to return in four to six months, could return closer to the four-month mark.