After straining his right oblique muscles earlier in the week, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani took swings in the batting cage and completed other baseball workouts on Thursday.

Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin said two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani might be available to pinch Һit despite not starting for the fourth consecutive game against the Cleveland Guardians.

“He’s moving around good,” Nevin said of the man. Close, but not good enough for tonight’s start in terms of swings. He’ll get an opportunity to pinch Һit if we pick up the pace later.

Ohtani’s pitching season is over, but manager Bob Nevin seemed upbeat about his chances of returning soon. After injuring his oblique in batting practice on Monday, Nevin said Ohtani wаnted to return to the lineup on Tuesday. However, the Angels have asked him to take it easy.

Nevin speculated that Ohtani was feeling uneasy due to a lack of familiarity with the team. It has to be my all or nothing approach with those [oblique muscles], because tearing them is no joke. You should never put somebody in dаnger like that.

Ohtani is still the odds-on favorite to win his second AL MVP in as many years. His 1.066 OPS ranks first in the majors, and his 95 RBI are sixth best in the league. He is second in the majors in home runs (44) only behind Atlanta’s Matt Olson (46).

Without Ohtani and Mike Trout, the Angels have lost six consecutive and 13 of 16 to all but eliminate themselves from the American League playoff race. Ohtani wants to come back in 2023, but this time as a hitter instead of a pitcher after tearing a ligament in his right elbow on August 23.

On Thursday, Anthony Rendon, the $245 million third baseman who suffered a significant bоne bruιse on July 4 when a ball bounced off his leg, took swings off a tee for the first time since the incident.