ARLINGTON, Texas — The Angels' run of strong starting pitching from their young rotation came to an end on Sunday when 35-year-old Yusei Kikuchi returned from the injured list and allowed five runs in five innings in a 5-3 loss to the Texas Rangers.
Kikuchi, who had been sidelined since late April with shoulder inflammation, made his first major-league start in more than three months. He gave up three runs in the second inning and two more in the fifth, finishing with seven hits allowed — five of them hit harder than 98 mph. He allowed home runs to Elias Diaz and Ezequiel Duran.
The left-hander's return came after a rocky rehab stretch. According to the Orange County Register, Kikuchi posted a 15.63 ERA in four minor league rehab starts, but he insisted his stuff was big league ready. The Angels, who watched him throw two bullpen sessions this week, agreed and inserted him into the rotation as the sixth starter.
Kikuchi, 35, had been sidelined since late April with shoulder inflammationerial and chose a rest-and-rehabilitation program rather than season-ending surgery, as NBC Sports reported. In his return Sunday, he allowed three runs in the second inning and two more in the fifth, finishing with five runs allowed on seven hits over five innings. Two of those hits were home runs, off the bats of Elias Diaz and Ezequiel Duran. His fastball averaged 96 mph, slightly up from April, according to the Santa Ana Orange County Register. He shelved his cutter — a new pitch this season — and relied on his fastball, splitter, slider, and curveball, a decision consistent with interim pitching coach Tim Leveque's philosophy of having pitchers lean on their best pitches.
Kikuchi's return interrupted a strong stretch from the Angels' young starters. Before Sunday, George Klassen, Walbert Ureña, Grayson Rodriguez, Reid Detmers and Ryan Johnson had combined to surrender three earned runs across 32 innings in the first five games of the road trip, as reported by the Orange County Register. His five-inning, five-run outing stood in contrast to that run of success.
The Angels, who fell to 52-78 with the loss, had decided to put Kikuchi back into the rotation as a sixth starter after watching him throw two bullpen sessions this weekched and agreeing with his assessment that his stuff was ready, according to the Register. Kikuchi had posted a 15.63 ERA over four minor league rehab starts but maintained he was ready. The team's decision came after he was sidelined since April 30 with shoulder inflammation, with Kikuchi choosing rest and rehabilitation rather than season-ending surgery.
In his return, Kikuchi allowed three runs in the second inning and two more in the fifth, finishing with five runs on seven hits, including five balls hit harder than 98 mph. He surrendered home runs to Elias Diaz and Ezequiel Duran. His fastball averaged 95 mph, slightly up from April, and he set aside his cutter—a new pitch he had added this season—relying instead on his fastball, slider, splitter, and curveball. The decision to shelve the cutter was consistent with the approach of interim pitching coach Tim Leveque, who emphasizes using a pitcher's best offerings more frequently.
Earlier in his rehab, Kikuchi showed flashes of his potential, as NBC Sports reported a five-inning outing in which he struck out five, walked two, and allowed three runs—though the first inning accounted for all three runs. In a separate rehab start, he struggled with command, walking five while striking out two, with his fastball touching 96.5 mph but averaging around 94 mph. The Angels' decision to activate him came despite those inconsistencies, relying on his experience and the progress shown in bullpen sessions.
Kikuchi is in the second year of a three-year, $63 million contract and entered Sunday's start with a 6.25 ERA in eight outings this season. The loss drops the Angels to 52-78 on the year. The team's late rally—highlighted by a Zach Neto home run and a double from Mikie Mahtook—came up short, with the tying run at the plate when the game ended.