Chances ‘very remote’ Matt Shoemaker pitches for Los Angeles Angels this week
By Phil Watson
While Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia is “very encouraged” about the likelihood that rookie right-hander Matt Shoemaker will pitch in the playoffs, the skipper told MLB.com that Shoemaker likely won’t pitch during the regular season’s final week.
According to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, via Twitter:
Shoe played catch today & Sosh said he's "very encouraged" about postseason availability. But chances of pitching this wk "very remote."
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) September 23, 2014
Shoemaker sustained a mild oblique strain in his last start on Sept. 15.
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He has been a huge surprise for the Angels this season. The 27-year-old didn’t join the rotation permanently until mid-June, but is 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.074 WHIP in 136 innings, covering 20 starts and seven relief appearances.
His .800 winning percentage is tops in the American League and he is fourth with 16 wins. In an ordinary year, he’d be a leading contender for Rookie of the Year, but with what Jose Abreu has done for the Chicago White Sox, this is hardly an ordinary year.
The Angels clinched the AL West title on Wednesday and have a 2½-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs.
They’ve done it despite season-ending injuries to starters Tyler Skaggs and Garrett Richards. Skaggs, who was 5-5 with a 4.30 ERA and 1.212 WHIP in 18 starts, was lost to Tommy John surgery. Richards, 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.038 WHIP in 26 starts, suffered a season-ending knee injury on Aug. 20.
Shoemaker has been terrific since late July, going 9-1 with a 1.49 ERA and 0.840 WHIP in 10 starts and one relief appearance since July 26.
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