Blue Jays' Matt Chapman rips manager John Schneider for pitching to Ohtani on Angels superstar's home run

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Matt Chapman was none too pleased with his team’s game plan against two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani on Friday night.

With the Los Angeles Angels visiting Rogers Centre for a three-game set, the opener started with a bang as the 2021 AL MVP blasted a first-pitch home run off right-hander Kevin Gausman in the first inning.

It was one of just a few mistakes Gausman made over his six-plus innings of work, leaving a 93.4 mph fastball over the middle of the plate to baseball’s home run leader, who connected on his 39th of 2023.

The Blue Jays would escape the top half of the first without allowing another run to score. But just as one situation was defused, another arose inside the dugout just moments after the defence came off the field.

Broadcast cameras caught Chapman venting his frustration to manager John Schneider about the approach against Ohtani, with the Gold Glove third baseman appearing to question why he was given a pitch to hit in the first place.

As the only serious threat in the Angels’ injury-riddled lineup, Chapman would’ve preferred to pitch around the generational talent. Lip readers quickly interpreted Chapman's profane message to his skipper.

It wasn’t long before Chapman supplied an answer of his own, though, as the 30-year-old connected on his 14th home run of the season in the top half of the second inning, tying the game at 1-1. And he got all of it, too.

Toronto’s pitchers limited the damage against Ohtani through the remainder of the contest, with his only other hit falling softly at 73.8 mph into shallow left field. Gausman also got his revenge against the 2023 AL MVP front-runner, who finished as one of his nine strikeout victims. Ohtani was unable to hit in the ninth inning due to cramping in his legs.

Chapman was likely very pleased about the final outcome, as the Blue Jays knocked off the Angels 4-1. After the game, Schneider dismissed his viral exchange with Chapman as a heat-of-the-moment incident between a player and manager, while the veteran infielder said it "came from a good place" and was fuelled by his competitive spirit.

Things did, however, get a tad dicey in the ninth inning as Toronto closer Jordan Romano left the game with two outs and the bases loaded after looking incredibly shaky. But Yimi García picked up his teammate and needed only two pitches to record the final out. It was later revealed that Romano left the game with a back issue, which also forced him out of this month's MLB All-Star Game.