Los Angeles Angels: Garrett Richards Working His Way Back
Garrett Richards hasn’t appeared in a game since May, but the Los Angeles Angels pitcher is reportedly getting closer to a return.
The Los Angeles Angels have had yet another rough season. The team lost right-hander Garrett Richards in May with an elbow injury. It now appears that Richards is ready to pitch again. Richards has been rehabbing from the injury and feels that he could pitch in a game right now. Richards dodged Tommy John surgery, even though it seemed to be concluded he needed it.
Richards injured his ulnar collateral ligament in May and decided to undergo stem cell treatment to heal the UCL. He has now been throwing for over a month. He is scheduled to make his next step in the rehab process, facing three batters in a simulated game Wednesday at Angel Stadium. If all goes well, the following week on October 3, Richards would throw two innings in an instructional league game. This will be Richards’ first situational pitches since May. If Richards gets through both of those appearances with no issues, the team will let him throw three innings on October 8, and then throw four to five innings on October 13.
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Tyler Skaggs was shut down after being diagnosed with a mild flexor pronator strain earlier this month. He said that he felted fine after throwing a 20-pitch bullpen session on Sunday. He is now scheduled to throw a 40-pitch bullpen on Tuesday. If all goes well, the Angels hope that Skaggs can throw in one of the team’s last games of the regular season. If he is not able to pitch before season’s end, he will pitch in the team’s instructional league. The Angels want to make sure that Skaggs is good in game situations before they head into the winter.
The Angels need to have a healthy Garrett Richards next season. The rotation has struggled immensely since he was sidelined in May. This season the Angels have the 20th best ERA in baseball at 4.32. Their current rotation consists of Ricky Nolasco, Jered Weaver, Jhoulys Chacin, Alex Meyer and Daniel Wright. The team is currently missing their two young, talented pitchers in Richards and Skaggs.
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The team has a lot of talent in their lineup but they need to find a fix for their rotation. The names you see in the rotation above will not win the team an AL West title. If Skaggs and Richards can return next season and the team can sign one or two decent starting pitchers, the Angels will be able to compete next season.