CHICAGO (AP) 鈥� Los Angeles Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi left Wednesday’s game against the White Sox in Chicago after two innings with left shoulder tightness.
The two-time All-Star left-hander was replaced by lefty before the game after Joey Lucchesi was designated for assignment.
Kikuchi allowed no runs on two hits and a walk with one strikeout before exiting. His average fastball velocity dropped from 94.9 mph in the first inning to 92.8 mph in the second.
A 34-year-old from Japan, Kikuchi was an All-Star last season with Los Angeles. He is 0-3 with a 5.81 ERA in 31 innings over seven starts.
Kukuchi is in his eighth major league season and pitched for Seattle, Toronto and Houston before signing as a free agent with the Angels in November 2024. He has career mark of 48-61 with a 4.51 ERA.
Los Angeles entered Wednesday having lost five straight and nine of 10.
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