Out of the lineup since April 8 with a thigh injury, slugging ace pitcher Shohei Otani took Thursday off a day ahead of his potential return to the Nippon Ham Fighters batting order.Otani, who started the season proscribed from pitching and under orders not to run flat out, injured a muscle in his left thigh while trying to beat out an infield single and has not played since.With the Fighters struggling to remain in contention for a playoff spot, Hideki Kuriyama appears inclined to activate Otani for Friday's game against the Rakuten Eagles, although doubts about the 23-year-old star's fitn…READ FULL ARTICLE
