OC Register: Angels shuffle rotation to use best pitchers for series in Seattle

[AngelsWin.com]

BALTIMORE — It may be barely July, but the Angels appear to be putting some extra emphasis on this week’s three-game series against the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners, who are currently sitting in the second wild card spot, will host the Angels for the first three of nine games between the two teams in July.

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The Angels are starting Andrew Heaney and Tyler Skaggs — their two best active pitchers — in the first and last games of the series. Jaime Barría, whose normal turn would have come during the series, was bumped back a few days to instead pitch on Friday, at home against the Dodgers.

The pitcher for the middle game of the series is currently listed as “TBA.” However, Garrett Richards came through his rehab outing on Friday with no hamstring issues, Manager Mike Scioscia said. Richards was scheduled for a bullpen session, after which the Angels could decide to have him pitch on Wednesday in Seattle.

Shohei Ohtani also could return to the Angels lineup in Seattle. Ohtani participated in a simulated game, facing live pitching, for a second straight day on Sunday. Scioscia said he was scheduled for another workout on Monday.

Although the Angels have not committed to when he’ll return to the lineup, it could be as soon as Tuesday.

Ohtani is out with a damaged ulnar collateral ligament. While he is waiting for the platelet-rich plasma injection and stem-cell therapy to heal the ligament — in the hopes of pitching again this year — he and the Angels have been told that hitting poses no risk to the healing.

ROSTER CRUNCH COMING

Besides Ohtani, the Angels also could be getting Jefry Marte (wrist) back soon. Marte has played two games of his rehab assignment at Class-A Inland Empire.

Adding two position players could lead to some tough decisions for the Angels. They have Kaleb Cowart currently on the roster, and he can be optioned. David Fletcher can also be optioned, but either he or Cowart needs to be on the roster as the backup shortstop. Fletcher has also been playing well in his first month in the majors.

Marte is out of options, so when he’s healthy, he needs to be added to the roster or designated for assignment. The Angels can’t option Luis Valbuena or Chris Young either.

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For a few days, the Angels could go with four starting pitchers and keep Fletcher, Marte, Valbuena and Young. They will need a fifth starter on Saturday, though.

ALSO

Valbuena did not start on Sunday, despite having four homers in nine career at-bats against Baltimore right-hander Kevin Gausman. Cowart started instead at first base. Scioscia said it was just a day off for Valbuena. Valbuena said there was nothing physically wrong with him…

Tyler Skaggs said he was fine a day after he came out of his start early. Skaggs and Scioscia said Saturday that the pitcher was “exhausted” after just 79 pitches on the humid day, with a first-pitch temperature announced at 93 degrees.

UP NEXT

Angels (Andrew Heaney, 5-6, 3.95) at Mariners (Wade LeBlanc, 3-0, 3.38), Tuesday, 7 p.m., Fox Sports West, KLAA (830 AM)

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