During the ninth inning of the Angels-Blue Jays game in Toronto, Shohei Ohtani’s spot in the order came up with the bases loaded and the Angels trailing by three runs. Surprisingly, Michael Stafanic pinch-hit for Ohtani instead of the best player in the world coming to the plate. The Blue Jays ended up winning the game 4-1, with the only run scored by the Angels being a solo home run by Ohtani.
It seems that Ohtani was not pinch-hit for due to performance issues, but rather because of a physical problem. The Angels reported that Ohtani was dealing with cramping in both legs. While it is uncertain whether Ohtani will be placed on the injured list, it is unlikely that cramps would require such a move. Losing Ohtani for any amount of time would be a significant setback for the Angels in their playoff aspirations, as they are currently four games out of the third AL wild-card spot.
Ohtani has been outstanding both as a hitter and a pitcher this season. In 102 games as an offensive player, he has a batting average of .301, an on-base percentage of .396, and a slugging percentage of .681. He has recorded 16 doubles, seven triples, 39 home runs, 81 RBIs, 80 runs, and 12 stolen bases. As a pitcher, he has a 9-5 record with a 3.43 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and 156 strikeouts in 120 2/3 innings over 20 starts.
