The Los Angeles Angels are set to welcome one of their key starting pitchers back to the rotation Sunday, with veteran left-hander scheduled to return from the injured list against the Texas Rangers.
According to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, Kikuchi will be activated from the 60-day IL and take the mound for his first start since suffering a shoulder injury. The 35-year-old was placed on the injured list with left shoulder inflammation after his April 29 start against the Chicago White Sox.
He joined the Angels on a three-year, $60 million contract ahead of the 2025 season, making his return an important development for an Angels rotation that has dealt with its share of challenges.
The veteran enjoyed a respectable 2025 campaign, finishing with a 3.99 ERA while averaging nearly nine strikeouts per nine innings. However, he also surrendered 180 hits across 178 1/3 innings, the most in the American League.
One encouraging factor from his abbreviated 2026 campaign was his unusually high batting average on balls in play. Opponents hit .352 on balls in play against Kikuchi before his injury, well above the MLB average of .289. That figure suggests that some of the damage against him may have been influenced by poor fortune rather than purely ineffective pitching.
Although the Angels are no longer in serious postseason contention, Kikuchi’s return could provide the club with a boost during the final stretch of the season. If he can regain his previous form, the veteran lefty could help Los Angeles remain competitive and potentially play a spoiler role in the AL West race.
