Angels' Shohei Ohtani to Skip Next Pitching Start Due to Arm Fatigue; Will Still DH

Los Angeles Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani will not make his next scheduled start on the mound due to arm fatigue, manager Phil Nevin told reporters Sunday.

Ohtani, who was scheduled to start Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers, told Nevin Saturday that he needed to take a start off. The righty is not injured and is expected to return to the rotation during a series against the Cincinnati Reds beginning on Aug. 21.

"Like I've told you guys many times, he knows his body better than anybody," Nevin said. "I trust him when he talks about it. He assured me there's no pain, no injury. He's got some regular arm fatigue that pitchers go through at times. I trust him when he tells me this and that he'll be ready for his next time out."

Though he's going to miss a start on the mound, he will continue to see time in the lineup as the team's designated hitter.

"He's fine," Nevin said. "Hitting is not affecting anything. I saw some signs in last night's game. The ball he hit late in the game, not many guys hit the ball harder than that. He feels good and healthy at the plate. It's just throwing, he has some normal fatigue."

Patrick Sandoval is slated to open the series against Texas on Monday and Lucas Giolito will start on Tuesday. The Angels have not named a replacement starter for Ohtani for Wednesday's matchup.

Ohtani is in the midst of another MVP-worthy campaign and he could very well take home the honor for the second time in the last three seasons. The 29-year-old is 10-5 on the mound with a 3.17 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and 165 strikeouts in 130.2 innings across 22 starts.

Additionally, the slugger is having the best season of his career at the plate, slashing .305/.407/.661 with 40 home runs, 83 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 116 games.

Ohtani was included in numerous trade rumors leading up to the Aug. 1 deadline with his contract set to expire after the 2023 season. However, the Halos decided to keep the Japanese superstar onboard and be buyers instead of sellers at the deadline.

The Angels brought in Giolito, Reynaldo López, Randal Grichuk, Eduardo Escobar, Mike Moustakas and C.J. Cron, but they are no closer to landing an American League wild card spot.

Los Angeles has won just two of its last 10 games and is 6.5 games back of a wild card berth with a 58-60 record.

Ohtani—the team's best pitcher—taking a day off on the mound isn't ideal as the Halos try to desperately try to turn things around, though it'll be better for his health in the long run.