The Los Angeles Angels are getting one of their top starting pitchers back on the bump this Sunday, and if you’re in the AL West, you probably just groaned. Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is officially coming off the 60-day injured list to start against the Texas Rangers today, a move that could seriously mess with things for teams trying to climb the standings.
The Big Lefty’s Return From The IL
Dude has been out since April 29, dealing with left shoulder inflammation after a start against the Chicago White Sox. Sixty days is a long time to be sidelined, especially for a guy like Kikuchi who inked a three-year, $60 million deal with the Angels before the 2025 season. You know they’re counting on him. Last year, he had a pretty solid campaign, posting a 3.99 ERA and nearly punching out nine batters every nine innings. That’s a workhorse right there! But, he did allow an American League-high 180 hits in 178.1 innings. Still, the strikeout numbers show he can dominate when he’s on.
Luck Of The Draw? Or A New Era?
Here’s the kicker: before Kikuchi’s injury this season, opposing hitters were batting a wild .352 on balls in play against him. The MLB average is way down at .289, so yeah, that’s a huge difference. That stat screams “unlucky” to me. Seriously, how many of those were just seeing-eye singles or bloopers? If he was just getting hit with some brutal luck, then his return could mean he’s due for a major turnaround. The Angels might not be in the postseason race, but they can absolutely play spoiler down the stretch. A dialed-in Kikuchi can make them a much tougher out, messing with teams fighting for every single win. He makes that AL West club just a little more competitive, and that’s all it takes to ruin someone’s week.
Meanwhile, What’s Up With Our Guys?
Speaking of AL West drama, check this out: our very own Mariners catcher, Cal Raleigh, is on track to hit the fewest home runs ever after a 60-plus homer season in MLB history. Yeah, you read that right. While Kikuchi is trying to find his groove again, our Big Dumper is making some… different kind of history. You gotta wonder what’s going on there, right?
The Angels and Kikuchi face the Rangers today, and you know every team in the AL West will be watching that game. This lefty’s return could swing some crucial games for teams battling for position, and we know how every single win counts in this division. Let’s keep an eye on how Kikuchi looks, and hope our Mariners can get Cal Raleigh back to smashing dingers!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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