ANAHEIM — Patrick Sandoval’s breakthrough season is over.
Sandoval, who was placed on the injured list with a back injury, will now miss the rest of the season because of a lower back stress fracture, General Manager Perry Minasian announced on Friday.
Minasian said it won’t affect his availability for spring training.
Still, it ends what had been an eye-opening short season for Sandoval. The Mission Viejo High product posted a 3.62 ERA in 87 innings this season, including carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Minnesota Twins last month.
“He’s had an outstanding year,” Minasian said. “Something to really build off. He’s worked really hard. Obviously, it’s disappointing that he’s not in the rotation, that he’s not going to finish the year. But that being said, he made huge strides. So we’re excited to see what the future holds for him.”
Sandoval’s injury was similar to the one that shelved Griffin Canning for the rest of the season, although Canning got hurt just after the Angels sent him to Triple-A.
Sandoval and Canning work out together over the winter, so Minasian acknowledged that they’ll evaluate their workout routines.
“We’re going back through our process, what they did in the offseason, what they did in season, just to see if there’s something that needs to change,” Minasian said. “That’s one thing I’m big on, that we will be big on as an organization, is when certain things happen asking why? And really going through it, talking to the medical staff and doing those things.”
With no more hope for Sandoval to come back this year, the Angels will face a difficult task in piecing together their rotation.
Alex Cobb (right wrist inflammation), Dylan Bundy (right shoulder strain) and Chris Rodriguez (right lat strain) are all “week to week,” Minasian said.
Cobb seems to be the closest to a return because he’s thrown a bullpen. Rodriguez, who was placed on the Triple-A injured list, is rehabbing in Arizona, but not yet throwing. Minasian said it’s possible he could come back this season in a bullpen role.
The Angels are also currently without Reid Detmers, who is on the COVID-related injured list.
Because of those absences, the Angels brought Cooper Criswell up to make his major league debut in a start on Friday night. José Suarez will start on Saturday. After a rare Sunday off day, the Angels will again need to find a starter for Monday, before Shohei Ohtani and Jaime Barria pitch the final two games against the New York Yankees on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Asked if he’s concerned about having major league-caliber starters to get through the final month of the season, Minasian said: “We’re going to go day to day. I think every team is in a similar situation. It’s a challenge throughout the game, the health of pitching staffs and rosters in general.”
Manager Joe Maddon said: “It’s more problematic, no question. … It is one-day-at-a-time type of stuff. You have to go one pitcher at a time right now. Just figuring out the bullpen daily is going to be a problem. I don’t know how far the starters are going to get into the game, some of the new guys, and that’s going to put more emphasis on the bullpen. … It’s not easy to do.”
NOTES
Mike Trout (calf) ran the bases on Friday, Minasian said. “They ran him pretty good, so we’ll see how his calf feels tomorrow,” Minasian said. “It’s going to be a day-to-day thing.”…
Outfielder Justin Upton returned to the Angels’ lineup after missing three games with a calf injury. …
Minasian said third baseman Anthony Rendon’s hip surgery “went well.” …
The Angels optioned infielder Kean Wong to create a roster spot for Criswell. They did not need to create a spot on the 40-man roster for Criswell because they had players on the COVID injured list, and they don’t count on the 40-man roster. …
The Angels also recalled left-hander Packy Naughton and optioned right-hander James Hoyt.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP José Suarez, 5-7, 4.06 ERA) vs. Padres (RHP Ryan Weathers, 4-6, 5.27), Saturday, 6:38 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM
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