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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Starting Game 2 with no limitations
Rotowire
Kikuchi is slated to start the Angels' second game of the regular season -- which will take place Friday, March 27 in Houston -- and is expected to be "full-go" for that outing, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Kikuchi spent much of his time this spring with Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic, but he had a small workload, tossing just four innings across two appearances and giving up three runs on seven hits with a 5:0 K:BB. The southpaw recently returned to the Angels and started against the Royals on Thursday, tossing 4.2 innings during which he allowed one run on two hits and three walks while fanning two batters. Kikuchi worked up to just 64 pitches in the start, but even with Opening Day just a week away, it sounds like the club feels that Kikuchi will be able to handle a full workload right away.
Kikuchi (forearm) faced live hitters Wednesday in his first throwing session of spring training, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Kikuchi exited his final start of 2025 on Sept. 24 due to what the Angels called a left forearm cramp. The veteran southpaw looks to have had a normal offseason and appears to be ahead of most of the rest of the pitching staff, as Kikuchi is set to leave the team in the coming days to join Team Japan ahead of the World Baseball Classic. Per Bollinger, first-year manager Kurt Suzuki said Tuesday that Kikuchi is one of three pitchers locked into rotation spots, and the 34-year-old could get the nod for Opening Day versus the Astros.
Kikuchi was removed from Wednesday's game against the Royals due to a left forearm cramp.
Kikuchi made it through five innings of one-run ball and struck out six batters before leaving the game alongside one of the Angels' trainers. Regardless of the severity of his injury, Wednesday will be the final start that Kikuchi makes in 2025, and he'll conclude the season with a 3.99 ERA and 1.42 WHIP alongside a 174:74 K:BB over 178.1 innings spanning 33 starts.
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Angels' Yusei Kikuchi: Decent in no-decision
Rotowire
Kikuchi allowed two runs on five hits and three walks while striking out two over 5.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Brewers on Thursday.
Kikuchi has walked at least three batters in four of his last seven starts. He's at least gotten the rest of his work under control, allowing just three runs over his last 11.2 innings, but his winless stretch reached seven games Thursday. For the season, Kikuchi has a 4.05 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 168:73 K:BB through 173.1 innings. The southpaw is tentatively projected for his last start of the season at home against the Royals next week.
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