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Shohei Ohtani has reportedly been taken off the trade block -- and after his exploits at Detroit's Comerica Park on Thursday, it's easy to understand why the Los Angeles Angels don't want to part with the Japanese superstar.
The Angels are chasing down a wild card spot in the American League, and Ohtani might just be able to get them there -- and win his second MVP award in the process. He did his candidacy no harm by shutting out the Tigers in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday -- and then hitting his league-best 38th home run later that day.
Ohtani tosses gem in first game...
Ohtani threw his first career complete game on Thursday afternoon, and his first career shutout to boot. He declawed the Tigers over nine innings, limiting them to one hit and recording eight strikeouts.
The right-hander's nine shutout innings lowered his ERA to 3.43, and he notched his ninth win of the 2023 season -- his third consecutive campaign with at least that many. Ohtani's 156 strikeouts are fourth in all of Major League Baseball, and his .185 batting average against in the lowest in MLB.
...and launches a home run in the second game
Less than 90 minutes after Ohtani buttoned up the Angels' 6-0 win in the first game, he returned to the field and slugged two home runs against Detroit in the second -- his league-leading 37th and 38th dingers.
The 38 home runs are eight off Ohtani's career high of 46, which he reached during his 2021 MVP season -- and he has 60 more games to set a new personal best and win MLB's home run crown for the first time.
Los Angeles sits three games out of the final playoff spot in the American League and has a huge weekend series coming up against the Toronto Blue Jays -- their closest competitors for the third and final AL wild card place.