OC Register: Jaime Barria to return to Angels after successful debut last week

[AngelsWin.com]

ANAHEIM — Shortly after Jaime Barría picked up the victory in his major league debut, he got a ticket back to Triple-A.

Barría, who said he knew his previous start was a one-shot deal to plug a hole in the rotation, is going to get another opportunity on Sunday, when he’ll be recalled for his second start.

Manager Mike Scioscia said Barría, 21, made an impression by staying composed in allowing just one run in five innings against the Texas Rangers.

“Pitchers are keyed up for their first start and sometimes it takes them out of their game,” Scioscia said. “He stayed in his game and pitched well.”

The Angels sent Barría back after that game because they wanted to keep an extra bullpen arm. So far the Angels have not had six starters on the roster at one time, even though much was made of their plan to have a six-man rotation.

“It will happen at some point,” Scioscia said.

The problem is the starters have been unable to get deep enough in games to give the bullpen a rest, so the Angels have needed to keep an extra reliever or two.

Asked if it’s feasible for them to get down to the seven-man bullpen that was originally planned, Scioscia joked: “Right now we probably need an 11-man ’pen.”

Even if the Angels could go with a seven-man bullpen, it won’t be easy for that roster move. Keynan Middleton is the only one of the eight current relievers who can be optioned, and he’s the preferred closer now.

Instead, the Angels might just keep cycling starters between the majors and Triple-A, so they have only five in the majors at one time. The Angels have off days next Thursday and a week from Monday, making it possible to get by with five starters.

OHTANI UPDATE

Shohei Ohtani did some throwing on Friday and still feels “pretty good” about being able to pitch, despite a blister that affected him during his last start, Scioscia said.

Scioscia said Ohtani is scheduled for a full bullpen session on Sunday. That would probably be the final test before the Angels determine if he can take his next turn, which would most likely be on Tuesday in Houston.

In other Ohtani news, the Hall of Fame on Friday announced that it had received the cap Ohtani wore in his major league pitching debut on April 1.

ALSO

Matt Shoemaker, who is out with forearm irritation, said he’s feeling “really good” and hoping to resume throwing in the next few days. Shoemaker has undergone a battery of tests that showed no new injury. He had surgery last year to relieve pressure on the radial nerve. …

Zack Cozart was not in the lineup, with a routine day off, Scioscia said. …

Kole Calhoun, who was mired in a 2-for-24 slump, was dropped to eighth in the lineup. …

Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh, two of the Angels’ top prospects, hit grand slams in the same game on Friday. Playing for the Angels’ Class-A affiliate in Burlington, Iowa, Adell had four hits and drove in eight runs in a 28-7 victory over Quad Cities. Marsh had seven RBIs.

UP NEXT

Angels (Garrett Richards, 2-0, 2.60) vs. Giants (Derek Holland, 0-2, 4.60), Saturday, 6 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (AM 830)

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