Angels’ Ohtani to have surgery

Los Angeles Angels two-way rookie Shohei Ohtani will have Tommy John surgery next week.

The Angels confirmed Ohtani’s long-expected decision on elbow ligament replacement Tuesday. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery in Los Angeles.

“I think it was the proper decision Shohei made to have surgery, and the sooner the better,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before his club faced the Rangers, with Ohtani batting cleanup as the designated hitter.

Ohtani won’t be able to pitch for the Angels in 2019, but he is likely to hit at some point early next season. When asked whether Ohtani is likely to be ready for opening day as a hitter, Scioscia said there are “too many variables” to make a confident prediction.

Ohtani wasn’t available to reporters before the game, but Scioscia confirmed General Manager Billy Eppler’s earlier statements that the Angels are committed to Ohtani’s determination to be a two-way player in the majors.

“It obviously puts him out of pitching in 2019, but he’ll be able to hit, and I think he’s at peace with that,” Scioscia said.

SCHERZER STRIKES OUT NO. 300 » Nationals righthander Max Scherzer has become the 17th majorleague pitcher since 1900 to strike out at least 300 batters in a season.

Scherzer reached the milestone by getting Austin Dean of the Miami Marlins to whiff on an 85 mph slider for the second out of the seventh inning Tuesday night. That was Scherzer’s 10th K of the game.

He has 10 strikeouts or more in a majorshigh 18 of his 33 starts in 2018.

Scherzer entered Tuesday 17-7 with a and 2.57 ERA as he tries to earn a third consecutive NL Cy Young Award with Washington. He also won the AL honor in 2013 for the Detroit Tigers. FOR FALCONS » The Atlanta Falcons have placed free safety Ricardo Allen on seasonending injured reserve with a torn Achilles tendon.

Allen was carted off the field in last Sunday’s overtime loss to New Orleans, becoming the third defensive starter to go down for Atlanta. Strong safety Keanu Neal tore his ACL in the opener and is out for the year.

Linebacker Deion Jones underwent foot surgery and is sidelined until at least Nov. 18.

WINSTON COULD START » Jameis Winston is back on the job, though the Tampa Bay Buccaneers still aren’t saying if it’s as the team’s starting quarterback.

Winston’s three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy ended Tuesday, the first day the fourth-year pro was permitted to return to the team’s training facility and have contact with coaches and teammates.

It was a day off for players following Monday night’s 30-27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, however coach Dirk Koetter said the first overall pick from the 2015 draft showed up bright and early, ready to begin preparation for the Chicago Bears.

What Koetter declined to say was whether Winston or Ryan Fitzpatrick, who has the Bucs off to a 2-1 start while throwing for more than 400 yards in a league-record three consecutive games will start Sunday.

TALIB TO HAVE SURGERY » Los Angeles Rams cornerback Aqib Talib will undergo surgery Thursday to repair an ankle injury.

Rams coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that a timetable for Talib’s return will not be known until after the procedure is completed and the full extent of the injury he sustained in the second half of the 35-23 win over the Chargers on Sunday is determined.

“It depends on once you get in there. We’ll find out once that surgery takes place,” McVay said.