Prior to last night’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Angels at Citizens Bank Park, both Bryce Harper and manager Rob Thomson spoke to the media.
Harper answered a number of questions about Angels superstar and two-way player Shohei Ohtani. Thomson did as well. One question they were both asked had to do with the fact that Philadelphia won’t be facing Ohtani as a pitcher in their series against L.A.. Both Harper and Thomson had nothing but good things to say about the Japanese-born 29-year-old.
“I think we were all looking forward to it”, Harper said. “[Ohtani’s] one of the best in the game on the mound and in [the] batter’s box as well. [If] you want to be the best, you have to face the best and that’s him.” The two-time NL MVP added, “He’s got some good stuff [on the mound].”
When the topic was brought up during Thomson’s pregame media availability session, he jokingly responded, “No, we’re fortunate” when it was mentioned how unfortunate it was that the club wouldn’t have to face Ohtani. The Phils skipper quickly added, “We don’t ever want to see anybody get hurt. He’s so dominate on the mound, we’d rather face somebody else.”
Ohtani’s last start as a pitcher was last Wednesday, meaning his next start likely would’ve come here in Philadelphia. But he was quickly removed from that outing and eventually diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, or UCL, that ended his season as a pitcher. For the time being, Ohtani will continue to be L.A.’s designated hitter.
Ohtani, the favorite to win this year’s AL MVP award, brought a .305/.409/.666 slash line with a Major League-leading 44 home runs into last night’s game — a 6-4 Phillies win. The left-handed slugger hit second for the Angels and went 1-for-4 with a walk. As a pitcher, Ohtani will finish the season with a 3.14 ERA in 132 innings of work.
For the Phillies, not having their lineup face Ohtani could be considered “fortunate” as Thomson put it given that he’s the Halos’ best pitcher. However, the club’s pitching staff is still tasked with getting him out as hitter. And that’s not easy as Ohtani has been one of baseball’s best hitters this year.
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