ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shohei Ohtani took swings in the batting cage and did other baseball activities Thursday, nearing a return to the Los Angeles Angels' lineup after straining his right oblique muscles early in the week.
Ohtani wasn't in the Angels' starting lineup for the fourth straight game when they hosted the Cleveland Guardians, but Los Angeles manager Phil Nevin said the two-way superstar might be available to pinch-hit.
"He's moving around good," Nevin said. "The swings were close, but not close enough to start tonight. So we may ramp up later, and he's got a chance to pinch-hit.