Shohei Ohtani likely to miss Masahiro Tanaka showdown after spraining ankle

Jack Baer
·Staff writer

For the second time in as many weeks, Shohei Ohtani has left a game early with an injury. The two-way phenom is day-to-day with a mild left ankle sprain suffered while DHing against the Yankees.

Before he was lifted in the seventh inning for Luis Valbuena, Ohtani further added to his legend with a home run in the second inning against New York ace Luis Severino. It wasn’t just a regular home run though, as Ohtani managed to take a 97 mph fastball that was well inside and still crank it 410 feet into the right-field seats for his fourth homer of the season. Ohtani is now hitting .341/.383/.682 through 47 plate appearances.

Unfortunately, Ohtani’s injury puts a matchup against Masahiro Tanaka into doubt now, as the Yankees starter is scheduled to pitch Saturday. Facing Tanaka would have been the first time Ohtani faced a fellow Japanese player in any capacity during the regular season. Ohtani is also currently scheduled to take the mound Tuesday against the Orioles.

Shohei Ohtani is day-to-day with an ankle sprain, throwing a matchup with fellow Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka in doubt. (AP Photo)
Shohei Ohtani is day-to-day with an ankle sprain, throwing a matchup with fellow Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka in doubt. (AP Photo)

Absurd feats and small frustrations have been the story of Ohtani’s MLB career so far. On Tuesday, he hit 101 mph on the radar gun, the fastest pitch thrown by any starter this season, but still got ground out by the Astros for five walks and four runs. That was his first pitching appearance since leaving a start early against the Red Sox due to a blister.

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