LEADING OFF: Ohtani excelling on mound, Javier an Astros ace

By The Associated Press

Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani takes a scoreless streak of 21 2/3 innings to the mound when he starts at Miami on Wednesday night. Ohtani is 7-4 with a 2.63 ERA. He has won four consecutive starts, allowing just one run in that span. He’s struck out 101 in 74 innings this year. The reigning AL MVP will pitch a day after his 28th birthday. This will be his first career pitching appearance against the Marlins, who have won six in a row. Los Angeles has dropped four straight.