Angels' Yusei Kikuchi exits early with shoulder tightness

CHICAGO -- Los Angeles Angelsstarter Yusei Kikuchi was removed with left shoulder tightness after two innings of a 3-2 loss to the Chicago White Soxon Wednesday.

Kikuchi had completed two scoreless innings but was replaced to begin the bottom of the third by left-hander Mitch Farris, who was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the day.

Kikuchi, 34, was 0-3 with a 6.21 ERA over six starts entering the game. He had made each of his six scheduled starts and thrown 80 or more pitches in each of them.

The Angels signed Kikuchi to a three-year, $63 million contract prior to the 2025 season. He is 48-61 with a 4.51 ERA during his MLB career after moving over from Japan. He made two appearances for his home country during the World Baseball Classic this spring.

The Angels designated veteran lefty Joey Lucchesi to open a roster spot for Farris.