Los Angeles Angels: Andrew Heaney set to return on Friday

Andrew Heaney hasn’t pitched in a big league game in well over a year, but the lefty will aim to help the Los Angeles Angels continue their winning ways in August.

If you haven’t checked the American League Wild Card standings for a while, you might be surprised to see the Los Angeles Angels currently holding down the second spot. After being as many as five games under .500 on July 27 (49-54), the Halos have gone on a tear in the month of August. They’re 11-4 this month, including winning seven of their last eight games.

The hot streak has lifted Los Angeles to a 62-59 record, putting them a half-game ahead of the Kansas City Royals for the league’s second Wild Card berth. They’re even a manageable three games behind the New York Yankees for the top spot.

With a month-and-a-half left to go in the regular season, the Angels need to fend of challenges from a staggering seven teams within 3.5 games of their position if they want to punch an unlikely ticket to the postseason. Fortunately, Andrew Heaney is returning to help the rotation down the stretch.

The 26-year-old left-hander missed virtually all of last season as he underwent Tommy John surgery. Heaney made only one start on April 5 of last year before going under the knife. He’s spent most of this season continuing to rehab and work his way back. He’ll make his long-awaited return to the mound when he starts Friday night against the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards.

The Angels’ rotation has managed a 4.31 ERA as a unit, which ranks a middle-of-the-pack 12th in MLB. That’s a bit surprising considering that Alex Meyer (currently on the DL with right shoulder inflammation) and Parker Bridwell are the only hurlers to make at least 10 starts who have ERAs under 4.00 (3.74 and 2.88, respectively). Lefty Tyler Skaggs could soon join that group, as he’s managed a 3.63 ERA through eight outings while spending significant time on the DL himself.

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After making his debut with the Marlins in the form of a seven-game cameo in 2014, Heaney was traded to L.A. (the Dodgers, then the Angels) the following offseason and put up solid numbers in his first extended taste of big league action. He posted a 3.49 ERA (108 ERA+), 1.20 WHIP and 2.79 K/BB ratio over 105.2 innings (18 starts) in 2015.

It’s might be too demanding to expect Heaney to slide right back in and help carry the Halos to October. His last major league outing was nearly 17 months ago, after all. But Heaney looked strong in six minor league rehab starts, recording a 2.60 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 5.80 K/BB across 27.2 frames between the Rookie and Triple-A levels. It may not mean much, but it’s certainly not discouraging.

Nevertheless, the Angels will accept any reinforcements they can get for the crucial weeks ahead. If Heaney happens to hit the ground running, he could be a key player for the rest of August and September. At the very least, he’ll be laying the groundwork for what he hopes will be an important 2018 campaign.

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Meanwhile, the Halos will try to keep defying the odds. If they can deliver Mike Trout to his first postseason since 2014, who knows what could happen?

As for Heaney, he says, per The Orange County Register, “I just don’t want to mess it up.” You have to admire his candor, at least.