The Los Angeles Angels right-hander was dealing with fatigue in his last start.
With a tough start to the season, the Los Angeles Angels can’t afford too many more setbacks over the rest of the season if they are going to make the postseason. Unfortunately, they may suffer one next week, as top pitcher Garrett Richards is unsure whether he will be able to make his next start due to fatigue according to the Associated Press via ESPN.
Richards was dealing with cramping and dehydration in his start last Sunday at Texas, which lasted only four innings. On Wednesday, Richards said he still wasn’t at full strength, and his turn in the rotation would come Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
One missed start due to something like dehydration is not going to concern Los Angeles too much. However, general fatigue can sometimes be an indicator of other pitcher injuries, so the Angels will be watching Richards closely if he doesn’t improve by Saturday.
The 27-year-old has absolutely electric stuff but hasn’t quite been able to put it all together, other than in his 2014 season which ended early due to a knee injury. Richards has a 2.34 ERA (3.24 FIP) with 34 strikeouts in 34.2 innings to start the year according to FanGraphs.com.
Los Angeles is off to a 13-15 start in 2016 as it looks to find the right pieces on the roster to compliment Mike Trout. The good news for the Angels is that the AL West is looking like a weak division, but they need Richards at his best to compete for the postseason, as he is their best starting pitcher.
A roster move is unlikely if Richards is only missing one start, so the Angels might go with a bullpen day on Friday.
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