Ohtani will break camp in big leagues

Shohei Ohtani will make the Angels’ opening-day, 25-man roster, despite his shaky spring, when the Angels play the Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum on March 29.

Ohtani is tentatively scheduled to pitch the third game of that series. He also is scheduled to be on the opening-day lineup as the team’s starting designated hitter.

The 23-year-old has allowed 15 earned runs and 18 hits in 8L innings this spring. At the plate he has three singles in 28 atbats.

Murphy expects to miss start.

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA.» Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, who is recovering from microfracture surgery on his right knee, doesn’t think he’ll be ready for opening day.

Murphy, whose .322 batting average ranked second in the NL last season and fourth in the majors. had the procedure in mid-October and started taking live batting practice a week and a half ago. Over the past few days, he has been incorporating lateral movement in his ground ball work.

No Chief Wahoo for Thome.

When Jim Thome is enshrined in the Hall of Fame in July, his plaque will not feature the Chief Wahoo logo that the Indians have displayed on team caps since 1947.

Thome spent 13 of his 22 seasons with the Indians and said last month he did not want the logo on his plaque.

“I think it’s the right thing to do,” Thome said Feb. 4. “I need to have a conversation with the Hall of Fame because of all the history involved.”