ARLINGTON -- One day after carrying a perfect game into the seventh inning, two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani rested, sitting out the Angels' 8-3 win over the Rangers on Monday night at Globe Life Park.
Ohtani probably won't be out of action for long. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Ohtani will be available to hit on Tuesday, though he wouldn't commit to having the left-handed slugger in the starting lineup against Texas. Ohtani's four starts at designated hitter have all come against righties, but the Rangers will send left-hander Martin Perez to the mound to oppose Angels lefty Tyler Skaggs on Tuesday.
Ohtani had even splits as a hitter in Japan, but he did not start at DH against A's left-hander Sean Manaea in Oakland.
"Matchups just haven't evolved yet," Scioscia said. "Historically, he hits lefties as well as righties. We'll let it go. There's a lot of factors than just Shohei."
Ohtani has homered in three consecutive games as the Angels' designated hitter, though he has not batted since Friday. Over his first week in the Majors, Ohtani hit .389 (7-for-18) with three home runs and seven RBIs and went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 13 innings. He earned American League Player of the Week honors on Monday, to no one's surprise.
"Certain great athletes come along and just wow us and you just marvel at those guys," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "But to do it on both sides of the Major League field, I like it. I like it because there are a lot of great athletes who can hit or pitch, but this kid combines it all. He wants to do it both ways and really wants to do it well."