What's on Tap: Previewing tonight's action - MLB

A full slate of games tonight, as it’s Tuesday and that’s what happens on Tuesday.

The biggest one is out in Los Angeles where Madison Bumgarner and the Giants start a big series against the Dodgers. San Francisco is game back in the standings but they have their ace going for them, which is nice. He can hit a little bit too.

The Mets are running Jonathon Niese out against the Cardinals, which is interesting given that they had a day off yesterday and could’ve skipped Niese, but hey, they ain’t my team.

Prospect Jake Thompson of the Phillies, making his fourth career start, goes against the relatively grizzled veteran Carlos Rodon, who is making his 44th. Rodon is just over a year older than Thompson. Practically ancient.

The matchups:

Houston Astros (Joe Musgrove) @ Pittsburgh Pirates (Ivan Nova), 7:05 PM EDT , PNC Park

Washington Nationals (Reynaldo Lopez) @ Baltimore Orioles (Kevin Gausman), 7:05 PM EDT, Oriole Park at Camden Yards

Los Angeles Angels (Tyler Skaggs) @ Toronto Blue Jays (R.A. Dickey), 7:07 PM EDT, Rogers Centre

Boston Red Sox (Clay Buchholz) @ Tampa Bay Rays (Chris Archer), 7:10 PM EDT, Tropicana Field

Kansas City Royals (Yordano Ventura) @ Miami Marlins (Andrew Cashner), 7:10 PM EDT, Marlins Park

Texas Rangers (Derek Holland) @ Cincinnati Reds (Dan Straily), 7:10 PM EDT, Great American Ball Park

Colorado Rockies (Jon Gray) @ Milwaukee Brewers (Chase Anderson), 8:10 PM EDT, Miller Park

Detroit Tigers (Anibal Sanchez) @ Minnesota Twins (Kyle Gibson), 8:10 PM EDT, Target Field

Philadelphia Phillies (Jake Thompson) @ Chicago White Sox (Carlos Rodon), 8:10 PM EDT, U.S. Cellular Field

New York Mets (Jonathon Niese) @ St. Louis Cardinals (Jaime Garcia), 8:15 PM EDT, Busch Stadium

Atlanta Braves (Rob Whalen) @ Arizona Diamondbacks (Archie Bradley), 9:40 PM EDT , Chase Field

Cleveland Indians (Danny Salazar) @ Oakland Athletics (Sean Manaea), 10:05 PM EDT, Oakland Coliseum

Chicago Cubs (Jake Arrieta) @ San Diego Padres (Christian Frederich), 10:10 PM EDT, Petco Park

New York Yankees (CC Sabathia) @ Seattle Mariners (Tiajuan Walker), 10:10 PM EDT, Safeco Field

San Francisco Giants (Madison Bumgarnder) @ Los Angeles Dodgers (Kenta Maeda), 10:10 PM EDT, Dodger Stadium

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ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani agreed to a $30 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels for the 2023 season in the two-way superstar’s final year of arbitration eligibility before free agency.

The Angels announced the deal, avoiding a potentially complicated arbitration case with the 2021 AL MVP.

Ohtani’s deal is fully guaranteed, with no other provisions. The contract is the largest ever given to an arbitration-eligible player, surpassing the $27 million given to Mookie Betts by the Boston Red Sox in January 2020, a month before he was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Ohtani is having another incredible season at the plate and on the mound for the Angels, regularly accomplishing feats that haven’t occurred in the major leagues since Babe Ruth’s heyday. He is a strong contender for the AL MVP award again alongside the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, who has tied the AL home run record and is closing in on the batting Triple Crown.

Ohtani is batting .276 with 34 homers, 94 RBIs and a .888 OPS as the Halos’ designated hitter. He is 15-8 with a 2.35 ERA and 213 strikeouts as their ace on the mound, and opponents are batting only .207 against him.

The 28-year-old Ohtani still will be a free agent after the 2023 season, and his future could be tied to the immediate fortunes of the Angels, who will complete their seventh consecutive losing season next week. The Angels didn’t trade Ohtani at the deadline despite being out of the playoff race again, and Ohtani is wildly popular among the club’s fans.

Ohtani repeatedly has said winning will be an important factor in choosing his home beyond 2023, and Angels owner Arte Moreno is currently exploring a sale of the team.

Moreno’s leadership has been widely criticized during the Angels’ mostly miserable run of play since 2009, and a fresh start with deep-pocketed new owners could be the best chance to persuade Ohtani to stay with the franchise he joined in 2018 from Japan. Ohtani immediately won the AL Rookie of the Year award, and he rounded into unique form last season after recovering fully from Tommy John surgery.

What’s on Tap: Previewing tonight’s action

Shohei Ohtani agrees to $30 million deal for 2023 with Angels