Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani and fellow All-Star Jared Walsh were held out of the starting lineup on Friday against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis.
Ohtani, who leads the majors with 34 homers, has limped out of the box since competing in the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game. He is just 4-for-24 with 14 strikeouts in his last six games, including an 0-for-4 effort with three punchouts in the Angels’ 3-2 win over the Twins on Thursday.
Ohtani, 27, is batting .271 with a team-best 74 RBIs while appearing in 90 of the team’s 96 games this season as a hitter.
Walsh, 27, is just 2-for-22 with eight strikeouts in his last five games. He also is batting .271 on the season with 22 homers and 66 RBIs in 93 games played.
Justin Upton will serve as the designated hitter and Phil Gosselin will get the nod at first base for the Angels, who will face left-hander J.A. Happ.
–Field Level Media