The Los Angeles Angels have delivered a cautious update on Yusei Kikuchi, announcing the left-handed pitcher has been shut down from throwing for three to four weeks. The move is a deliberate effort to avoid shoulder surgery, but the full extent of the injury remains under wraps.

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki revealed the plan before Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox. Kikuchi was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with shoulder inflammation after lasting just two innings in his last start. The team delayed the move to gather more information following an initial MRI, but nearly a week later, they’re still not disclosing the results.

“All I was told was we’re going to shut him down for three to four weeks of no throwing, and then we’re going to rehab him and build him back up,” Suzuki said. He emphasized that while surgery isn’t happening now, it hasn’t been ruled out entirely. “The initial plan is definitely encouraging. You never want anybody in surgery, but hopefully we can build him back, and he comes back strong.”

For Kikuchi, this setback adds to a challenging season. The 34-year-old was the Angels’ lone All-Star representative in 2025, but this year has been a different story. Through seven starts, he owns a 5.81 ERA, with opponents hitting .282 against him. One notable change is his pitch mix: he’s throwing his fastball nearly twice as often as his slider this season, a shift that hasn’t yielded the desired results.

The coming weeks will be critical. If the shutdown and rehab program succeed, Kikuchi could avoid the knife and return to the mound. If not, the Angels may be forced to pivot toward a more drastic solution. For now, the team is hoping rest and patience will be enough to get their veteran arm back on track.