BREAKING: Angels and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani set to reunite.
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Angels will play their first regular-season game with Shohei Ohtani facing his former team on Friday night. The two-way Japanese superstar Ohtani spent six seasons with the Angels, winning two unanimous honors as the American League MVP. However, he left as a free agency last summer and signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
While Ohtani expressed excitement about the game, he acknowledged that the Dodgers’ two-game series in Anaheim from September 3–4 will mark a bigger event. Ohtani stated via an interpreter on Thursday that he anticipates seeing his feelings peak when he is back in his previous home ballpark. “When I visit Anaheim, I think even more so,” Ohtani remarked. “But since we’re playing at Dodger Stadium, I’m just going to be focused on playing the game.”
Ohtani stated that during this season, he has “here and there” paid attention to the Angels. Regarding Ohtani, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated, “I believe he is appreciative of the fans and his time in Anaheim.” In addition, I believe he just wants to see the Dodgers win and to go on.” Ohtani hit his National League-leading 21st home run of the season Thursday afternoon during the Dodgers’ 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies in Denver to get ready for this two-game set against the Angels.
In his last five games, Ohtani has blasted four home runs. Since taking over as leadoff hitter in lieu of Mookie Betts (broken left hand), he is 8-for-18 (.444) with two home runs and seven RBIs in four games. Freddie Freeman, first baseman for the Dodgers, said of Ohtani, “He’s great everywhere, he’s going to hit.” “It doesn’t matter where that guy hits, he’s going to hit.” The Dodgers won three of the four games in the series as Freeman and Will Smith also went yard on Thursday.
Following a two-game loss to the visiting Milwaukee Brewers earlier this week, the Angels had the day off on Thursday. The Angels have struggled this season, sitting 16 games below.500 despite losing Ohtani’s bat and throwing arm and only having Mike Trout available for 29 games due to left knee surgery. The Angels lost 2-0 to the Brewers on Wednesday despite only managing four hits, so the bats were quiet. The Angels were hitless in their seven at-bats with runners in scoring position, and none of the hits went for extra bases.
Regarding the pitching match, Angels manager Ron Washington stated, “We just lost.” “We had opportunities.” The Angels will start left-hander Patrick Sandoval (2-8, 5.24 ERA) on Friday in hopes of winning for the first time since May 7. The 27-year-old Sandoval has a 5.63 ERA in his last seven outings, but he has only given up one run twice and two runs once.
After giving up three runs and eight hits in five innings against the San Francisco Giants on Saturday, he was given a no-decision. In five appearances (four starts), Sandoval is 0-3 against the Dodgers with a 5.40 ERA. Against Sandoval, Will Smith is 2 for 3 with a walk. Landon Knack (1-1, 2.61), a right-hander, will be called up by the Dodgers from Triple-A Oklahoma City to start the game on Friday.
With the Dodgers, Knack, 26, made three starts in April and one in May, giving up just 14 hits in 20 2/3 innings. He has a 3.54 ERA in 10 games (nine starts) with Oklahoma City, going 3-2. He is still not facing the Angels.