The Athletic’s Sam Blum reports that Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani left Thursday’s game due to back stiffness.
Ohtani said he felt his back stiffen on a slider in the first inning and it impacted his velocity. He said right now it isn’t a big issue but he’ll need to see how he feels tomorrow.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) May 27, 2022
After Ohtani pitched six innings, Taylor Ward was brought in to pinch-hit for him. Ohtani told reporters that he felt stiffness in his back after throwing a slider in the first inning of Thursday’s game.