Shohei Ohtani Removed from Angels' Game vs. Astros with Finger Injury; Allowed 4 ER

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani was removed from a start for the third consecutive game due to an issue with his fingers.

After walking Corey Julks to start the top of the sixth inning, Ohtani was replaced on the mound by Jacob Webb.

The Athletic's Sam Blum noted three-time All-Star was being looked at by the Angels' team trainer on the mound before being taken out. He allowed five runs (four earned) with seven strikeouts on 94 pitches over five innings.

Angels manager Phil Nevin told reporters after his team's 7-5 loss Ohtani "mentioned his finger was a little sensitive" after issuing the free pass to Julks.

"The nail didn't break or anything like that," Nevin added, "but I decided it was a good time to get him out.

Ohtani first started having finger issues on June 27 in his start against the Chicago White Sox. He was removed from the game as a pitcher after 6.1 innings with a cracked fingernail on his right middle finger.

The injury didn't prevent him from hitting, as he hit a solo homer in the bottom of the seventh inning off White Sox reliever Touki Toussaint.

The Angels pushed back Ohtani's next start by a few days to give his finger extra time to heal. He struggled in a July 4 outing against the San Diego Padres, allowing five earned runs and walking four in five innings.

Los Angeles announced Ohtani was pulled as a pitcher from that game with a blister on his right middle finger. The 29-year-old didn't take the mound in the All-Star Game, despite being named to the roster as a pitcher and designated hitter.

Speaking through his translator Ippei Mizhuara, Ohtani told reporters after Friday's game he's not sure when his next start will be.

"It's kind of been like that when I was on the mound. … I haven't really thought about when my next outing is," he said. "I'm just going to come to the field, see where my finger is at, and go from there."

Things aren't going well for the Angels right now. Mike Trout is currently on the injured list and is expected to miss four to eight weeks after undergoing surgery to replace a broken hamate bone on July 5.

Since moving a season-high eight games over .500 on June 16, the Angels have lost 15 of their last 20 games. They are 45-47 overall and six games behind the Astros for the final wild card spot in the American League.