• Associated Press

Sep 11, 2023, 08:39 PM ET

SEATTLE —

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    He was slated to play Monday in Seattle, but he was replaced at designated hitter by Mike Moustakas.

    “He warmed up, went through all his treatment, took some swings in the cage and he just doesn’t quite feel 100 percent,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said. “And I understand that. He came to me and said ‘Today is not the day yet.'”

    The 29-year-old Ohtani could be back in the lineup either Tuesday or Wednesday.

    “He feels confident that it’s any day now,” Nevin said. “He wants to play, that’s the key.”

    Ohtani already has been shut down for the season as a pitcher. He is likely headed for some sort of procedure to heal a ligament tear in his pitching elbow.

    The 29-year-old Ohtani is eligible for free agency after this season. He is batting .304 with 44 homers, 95 RBI and 20 steals. He also is 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts on the mound, making a strong bid for his his second AL MVP award in three seasons.

    The Angels have been beset by injuries to their star players this season, with Anthony Rendon (shin) and Mike Trout (hand) also missing extended time.