Shohei Ohtani misses next start on the mound due to tired arms as Angels battle continues after club’s controversial decision not to exchange mutual thrills by deadline

Shohei Ohtani will miss his next scheduled pitching start due to arm fatigue as the Los Angeles Angels’ decision not to trade in the two-way sensation at deadline looks worse by the day.

Angels skipper Phil Nevin told reporters on Sunday that Ohtani is not injured and will return to the rotation during a series at home against the Reds that begins August 21.

“I’ve often told you he knows his body better than anyone,” Nevin said.

“I trust him when he talks about it. He assured me there is no pain, no injury. He has some regular arm fatigue that some sometimes suffer from. I trust him when he tells me this and he’ll be ready for his next time-out.”

Nevin said Ohtani told him on Saturday to get started. The right-hander takes no time off as the team’s designated batter.

“He feels good on the plate,” Nevin said. He feels healthy swinging at bat. It’s just the (throwing) now, he’s got some normal arm fatigue that happens sometimes.”

Ohtani is 10-5 with a 3.17 ERA in 22 starts this season. He hits .305 with an American League-leading 40 home runs and 83 RBIs.

The Angels surprised many in baseball by being buyers in the days before the August 1 trade deadline, instead of trading their upcoming free agent, Ohtani. With potential suitors like the Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees already eyeing Ohtani this winter, many believed the up-and-down Angels would deal Ohtani to add a few prospects on his way to next season.

Instead, the Angels stuck with Ohtani and instead traded their own minor leaguers for Chicago White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito, who struggled in three starts for LA (9.00 ERA). Worst of all, the Angels went 2-9 in August as they fell to 6.5 games from the American League wild card heading into Sunday’s action.