Los Angeles Angels: Wild Card hopes rest on Richards and Skaggs

With 17 games remaining on their schedule, the Los Angeles Angels sit two games back of the Minnesota Twins for the second AL Wild Card spot. In order for the Angels to make the postseason, they need Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs to pitch like aces.

There’s no question about it. The Los Angeles Angels have a tough task ahead of them. In an attempt to make the postseason, the Angels need to pull off three more wins than the Twins, while matching up against the Astros four more times and the Rangers, Mariners and Indians three more times each. The lone bright spot in the Angels schedule is a four-game series against the White Sox.

One could argue that the Angels shouldn’t sit in the position they do right now. Playing a majority of the season with a banged up starting rotation, where Ricky Nolasco, Jesse Chavez, J.C. Ramirez and Parker Bridwell made a majority of the starts.

Due to multiple injuries, they’ve gone through most of the season without an established closer. Manager Mike Scioscia continues to use more of a closer by committee approach. Eight different pitchers have recorded a save for the Angels in 2017.

More from Call to the Pen

• Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
• Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
• Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
• Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
• 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals

This team also lost the best player in baseball, Mike Trout, for six weeks. Yet, here they are still battling each night for a shot to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2014. As of Sept. 14, Fangraphs gave the Angels a 25.7 percent chance of taking a Wild Card spot. 

What’s the key for the Angels to make the playoffs in 2017? No, not Trout and the offense, but two pitchers that finally look healthy and back to their full potential in Tyler Skaggs and Garrett Richards.

Skaggs pitched for the club in April, but suffered an oblique strain and didn’t return to the Angels until August 5. Since his return, Skaggs has pitched off-and-on but has pitched back-to-back quality starts.

On Wednesday, the 26-year-old showed off just what he can do when he has all of his pitches working. Against the Astros, Skaggs pitched seven shutout innings. He allowed just three hits, one walk and struck out five.

As for Richards, the right-hander suffered a biceps injury after his first start of the season. He finally returned to the club Sept. 5.

In two starts since his return, Richards has allowed just two earned runs in 8.1 innings of work. Due to pitch limits, Richards was on a short leash for both starts. On Tuesday, the 29-year-old held the Astros to one run on four hits, no walks, while striking out four.

The Angels counted on these two to perform big for them all season, but injuries hindered that opportunity. Richards and Skaggs now have an opportunity to make up for lost time.

Both pitchers should see at least three more starts each. The Angels need them to shut down their opponents if they want any shot at making a run in the postseason.

Next: Cleveland breaks AL consecutive wins record

Of course, the Angels need to play every facet of the game well, in order to play in October. If Skaggs and Richards don’t step up for this team, their season is over.