Ohtani sitting in finale against Orioles

May 12th, 2019

BALTIMORE -- Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was not in the starting lineup for Sunday’s finale against the Orioles.

“It was planned,” manager Brad Ausmus said before the game. “I told him two days ago.”

Ohtani is 4-for-21 with three RBIs since being reinstated from the injured list. He had two singles, an RBI and a run scored in the Angels’ 7-2 win on Saturday.

“I don’t think a ton,” Ausmus said when asked how often he’ll rest Ohtani, “but when I do, I’ll try to do it against a lefty.”

Baltimore left-hander John Means (4-3, 2.48 ERA) started Sunday against the Angels, who have won 10 of their last 14 and are averaging six runs per contest.

Ausmus rested shortstop Andrelton Simmons on Saturday, though he entered the game in the eighth inning and went 1-for-1 with a run scored. On Friday night, first baseman Albert Pujols sat. He returned Saturday to go 3-for-5 with two home runs and three RBIs. He was slated to DH on Sunday.

“You don’t want to sit players, especially the recognizable star-type players at home because the fans want to see them play generally. You don’t want to sit them against the division,” Ausmus said. “So, you actually have very limited games that you can sit them when you think about all the games you play within the division and all the games you play at home.”

The start of Sunday’s game was delayed by rain. Neither team is off Monday so a rainout would mean the Angels would have to return to Baltimore later in the season.

Squeezing it in on Sunday could mean a day of stops and starts, which poses its own set of problems.

“The biggest concern is the pitching,” Ausmus said. “You get your starter up and he pitches three innings. Then we have a rain delay. He’s got to come out, maybe get someone else up.

“You could end up not only having trouble getting through a game today. It could hurt you for tomorrow. That’s the big concern.”

Los Angeles finishes its 11-game road trip with a three-game series in Minnesota starting Monday night.

Angels release veteran Bourjos
The Angels announced Sunday that outfielder Peter Bourjos cleared waivers and has been unconditionally released.

He was designated for assignment last week.

Bourjos signed a Minor League contract with Los Angeles in the offseason. He went 4-for-44 (.091) with two RBIs and four runs scored in limited action.

The 32-year-old Bourjos was originally drafted by the Halos in the 10th round of the 2005 Draft and made his Major League debut in '10. He has also played for the Cardinals, Phillies, Rays and Braves.