Shohei Ohtani questionable to pitch on Monday after being hit by pitch

Shohei Ohtani was scheduled to pitch for the Angels on Monday. That seems to be up in the air now after the two-way player was hit by a pitch on his elbow on Sunday in the first inning.

He remained in the game, but Angels manager Joe Maddon couldn’t give a firm answer following the game about Ohtani’s status for Monday.

“He’s sore,” Maddon said to the media. “He’s being looked at right now. I talked to him during the course of the game. I don’t know how sore it’s gonna be tonight, or tomorrow morning, so that’ll be something we have to look at regarding him pitching tomorrow. But it’s too early to tell that right now.”

The plan was for Ohtani to be on the mound and in the starting lineup, but I’m sure the Angels will settle for him being able to take the mound. Usually, Ohtani got the day off before he’d start, but the Angels have been using him in the lineup the day before this season.

Maddon said the team has a plan B if Ohtani is unable to start. They could either make it a bullpen game or potentially move up Jose Quintana a day in the rotation.

Luckily for Ohtani and the Angels, it doesn’t look as if this hit-by-pitch will cost him any time at the plate or on the mound, as it just looks as if he’ll be sore.

“I don’t think it’ll affect either,” Maddon said. “It just might be sore for a bit. I mean, those pads are pretty good. But it might’ve caught him right in between the crease of the pad. But he’s fine. He not would not have been able to react the way he did afterwards if there was anything more to it.”