Shohei Ohtani to start for Angels on Tuesday

Shohei Ohtani has been scheduled to start Tuesday’s game against the Rangers, the Angels announced on Sunday. The two-way star has pitched just once this season due to a blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand, but he threw three bullpen sessions this week of increasing pitch volume, topping out at a 30-pitch bullpen on Saturday.

With no further issues following these sessions, Ohtani will look to build on a shaky first start that saw him allow one earned run over 4 2/3 innings against the White Sox on April 4, but with five walks and two hits allowed. While Ohtani has been kept off the mound, the blister hasn’t slowed down his red-hot bat, as Ohtani is hitting .333/.370/.706 with four home runs in 54 plate appearances.

More from both the AL West and NL West:

• It isn’t yet known if Buster Posey will require an injured list placement, as Giants manager Gabe Kapler said the catcher will be re-evaluated on Monday. Speaking to reporters (including Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle and The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly) before and after Sunday’s game with the Marlins, Kapler said pregame that there was some swelling in Posey’s left elbow, but noted after the game that the swelling had lessened. Posey left Saturday’s game in the seventh inning after being hit by a pitch, and X-rays were negative on the catcher’s elbow.
• The Rockies moved Chris Owings from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list earlier Sunday, as Owings will have to undergo surgery on his left thumb. Manager Bud Black told The Athletic’s Nick Groke and other reporters that Owings will need at least eight weeks of recovery time. Owings’ injury was initially diagnosed as a left thumb sprain when he was first placed on the IL last week, but the veteran utilityman is now going to end up missing a big chunk of the 2021 campaign.
• After undergoing surgery last September to fix a stress fracture in his right shin, Mariners utilityman Shed Long continues to make some progress on the recovery trail. Manager Scott Servais updated reporters (including Jen Mueller of Root Sports) on Long, saying that he is still having difficulty making changes of direction on his shin and making stops when running, although Long is able to run and sprint without any problems. It isn’t yet known when Long might be ready to make his 2021 debut.