Los Angeles Angels Ohtani Shohei (29) will be the starting pitcher for the opening game for the second year in a row.토토사이트
According to an MLB.com report, on the 17th (Korean time), Angels manager Phil Nevin announced that Ohtani would stand on the mound for the 2023 season opener against the Oakland Athletics on March 31.
Ohtani also pitched in the opener against the Houston Astros last season. Since 2016, Ohtani is the only Angels pitcher who has been selected for the opening game for two consecutive years. From 2010 to 2015, Jared Weaver took over the role.
Ohtani won the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the 2021 season. Last year, he also had good results while working as a pitcher. First, as a pitcher, he started 28 games and threw 166 innings, recording an average ERA of 2.33 with 15 wins and 9 losses. For the first time in his debut, he filled the regulation innings and won 15 wins (9 losses), breaking the record for most individual wins. He also had a career high earned run average (2.33). He played 157 games as a hitter, posting a batting average of 0.273, 34 home runs, and 95 RBIs.
The Angels acquired Tyler Anderson, who won 15 games last season, but Ohtani was the starting pitcher for the opening game.
The key is expected to be the physical condition. Ohtani will represent Japan at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in March. If Japan advances to the final, they will have to digest the tournament schedule for about three weeks from the 8th. And ten days later, it’s the opening game.