The Angels got both good news and bad news on Monday, April 15th prior to their game versus the Texas Rangers.
The good news was that they got the return of CF Mike Trout after sitting out the final game against the Milwaukee Brewers and did not travel with the team to face the Chicago Cubs due to a groin strain. The final game against the Cubs turned out to be postponed due to snow, so the Angels only missed Mike Trout for 3 games. The Angels went 2-1 in those 3 games and Trout spoke about the team winning 2 out of 3 games without him and said, “We knew we were going to come around. Guys were starting to get in the swing of things. Some teams go through it, the early part of the season, they try to do too much. We all try, we’re human.”
The Angels have started to swing the bats better since the start of April. The Angels have scored 3 runs or more in 10 out of the 12 games played coming into April 16th.
The bad news the Angels received is that left-handed starter Tyler Skaggs was placed on the 10-day IL (Injured List) with a left ankle sprain. Skaggs, sprained his ankle while trying to field a bunt by OF Kyle Schwarber of the Cubs in his last start on Friday. He noted that he had an MRI and that showed nothing serious and hopes to only miss the minimum 10 days. The Angels brought up right-handed starter Jaime Barria, who will be starting Tuesday night’s game against the Texas Rangers. The Angels were allowed to bring him back up after optioning him following the game on April 10th against the Brewers because there was an injury. When a player gets optioned they cannot be called up for 10 days unless there is an injury. Barria, pitched 2.2 innings against the Brewers, allowing 4 hits, 1 earned run and struck out 3 in relief.
The Angels also had optioned 3B Taylor Ward prior to Monday’s game after appearing in the series finale against the Brewers and the 2 games against the Cubs. Ward, went 1-6 (.167 AVG) while striking out 4 times. The Angels called up right-handed reliever John Curtiss, who appeared in relief in the series opener versus the Texas Rangers and pitched 2.1 innings. Curtiss gave up 2 hits, 1 ER, walked 3, and struck out 1 batter.
The Angels optioned Curtiss to call up left-handed pitcher Dillon Peters. Peters has started in 1 game in Triple-A this season and he went 5.1 innings while giving up 1 hit, walking 1, and striking out 1.
Peters will join the bullpen and if the Angels need multiple innings from the pen, Peters can give them that.
Featured Image: AP Photo/Matt Marton
