Injuries Plaguing Angels Pitching Depth
Despite injuries to veteran starter C.J. Wilson and top prospect Andrew Heaney, the Los Angeles Angels rotation has performed admirably this season. Garrett Richards, Hector Santiago and Nick Tropeano all currently own ERAs below three, while Jered Weaver is having a bounceback season of sorts as he looks to move past his high velocity days. While Matt Shoemaker has struggled, the rest of the staff has made up for his shortcomings.
Shoemaker may only have another month to earn a long-term spot in the rotation, though, as Wilson is targeting a mid-June return to the big leagues. Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reported that the 35-year-old is nearing a point in his rehab from shoulder tendinitis where the team is setting a definitive outline to return.
Wilson is currently on track to pitch in his first rehab appearance May 23, with a bullpen session kicking things off May 9. The team would like Wilson to make four or five starts in the minors before making his season debut. Last season, Wilson had a bounceback season with a 3.89 ERA and 1.24 WHIP after posting a 4.51 ERA in 2014.
Things get even more interesting with two of the teams young lefties. Heaney, who has been sidelined with a forearm strain since April 6, will seek additional opinions on the injury in the coming days. The lefty stopped throwing last week due to continued tightness in his forearm and was sent for an MRI earlier this week, per Mike DiGiovanna of the LA Times.
Heaney was expected to make a leap into the role of a number two starter and potential ace for the team this season, as he posted a 3.49 ERA and 3.73 FIP last season. With the solid performances from the rest of the pitching staff, however, there’s no need to rush Heaney and risk further injury.
After undergoing Tommy John Surgery in 2014, the Angels are being conservative in lefty Tyler Skaggs’ recovery. The 24-year-old has made three rehab appearances this season, but the team will not rush him back to the majors as he’s yet to top four innings in a game, per Fletcher.
Fletcher noted that the team would rather Skaggs be able to finish out the season than burn out toward the end, like the New York Mets experienced with Matt Harvey last season. Skaggs was a former top prospect with the Arizona Diamondbacks, and enjoyed relative success in his first season with the Angels by posting a 4.30 ERA and 3.55 FIP.
Finally, the team announced veteran closer Huston Street will head to the 15-day DL with a left oblique strain, as reported by Pedro Moura of the LA Times. The team will likely call up either Cam Bedrosian or Al Albuquerque from Triple-A Salt Lake to take his place on the roster.
Street was enjoying a nice start to the season, as he’s already picked up five saves and has a solid 1.17 ERA. Setup man Joe Smith will likely take over ninth inning duties in Street’s absence – and he already has one save on the season. As recently as 2014, Smith posted a 1.81 ERA with 15 saves in 74.2 innings with LAA.
The Angels will continue to do a lot of shuffling with their pitching staff this season, and once healthy, they’ll have the depth to compete at a high level.
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