Angels move Ohtani up in batting order 2 days after blister-shortened start

Not only will Shohei Ohtani be in the lineup Thursday - two days after lasting two innings on the mound due to a blister issue - but Los Angeles Angels skipper Mike Scioscia bumped the two-way phenom up in the batting order.

The Angels host the Red Sox for the finale of their three-game set, and Boston will be the second team - after the Oakland Athletics - to face Ohtani as both a pitcher and hitter in the same series when he bats sixth as the designated hitter. The Red Sox will send left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez to the hill.

The 23-year-old had started off the season batting eighth, but was intentionally walked April 12 against the Kansas City Royals in a pivotal spot in order to face Martin Maldonado. Ohtani was bumped up to seventh in the following game. After going 2-for-4 with a double in that contest, raising his career OPS to 1.191, the Angels moved him up one more spot.

The lineup change comes amid injury worries after Ohtani left Tuesday's start with a blister on his pitching hand. Over two innings pitched, Ohtani allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while recording one strikeout.