Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani’s latest feat shows his progress

It seems as though Shohei Ohtani does something incredible every time he appears on the diamond. The Los Angeles Angels star has not only dominated on the mound, but he also leads the majors in home runs. There does not seem to be anything he is incapable of doing.

On Thursday night, he had another accomplishment for the team, albeit not nearly grandiose as his usual performances. Ohtani became the first Angels pitcher in over three years to pitch at least six innings in five consecutive starts.

Los Angeles Angels pitching futility shows in Shohei Ohtani’s accomplishment

The Angels have struggled to find consistent pitching over the years. In fact, that has been widely considered to be their fatal flaw and the reason why they have not been able to return to the postseason since 2014. With Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon on the Injured List, and the Angels languishing in fourth place in the AL West, that streak seems likely to continue.

The fact that Ohtani is the first Angels pitcher in three years to have five consecutive starts of at least six innings further highlights those issues. Even bad teams should be able to have a pitcher last that long, regardless of how effective they are. It helps save the bullpen, and even if they are not a star, provides hope that someone on the pitching staff can get outs as needed.

Ohtani, meanwhile, has continued to be a star on the mound in these outings. Over those five appearances, spanning 32 innings, he has posted a 1.69 ERA and a 0.750 WHiP, striking out 29 batters with just four walks. Even though he is not striking batters out at the rate he once had been, he has been far more economical, with faster innings allowing him to last longer.

It is also the next step in Ohtani’s evolution as a major league pitcher. He has the stuff to strike out the opposition, and seemingly has a knack for getting that strikeout in critical moments. But until that point, he is beginning to rely upon his defense more, trusting that they will make the plays behind him. In doing so, he has become more than a tantalizing pitcher – he is becoming a true ace.

Shohei Ohtani is living up to his potential for the Los Angeles Angels. On Thursday night, he took another step in his progression.