The Angels are close to welcoming back a pair of starting pitchers, as Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic was among those to cover (Twitter links here). Matt Harvey is slated to rejoin the rotation out of the All-Star break, while JC Ramirez appears to be nearing activation as well after a typically lengthy Tommy John rehab process. Meanwhile, reliever and fellow Tommy John patient Keynan Middleton began a rehab assignment Friday.
Harvey went to the injured list with an upper back strain May 25 and then suffered a setback June 10, continuing a nightmarish season. The Angels took a one-year, $11MM flier on Harvey in free agency, but the decision has emphatically gone against the team thus far. Once an ace with the Mets, Harvey joined the Angels after finishing 2018 in respectable fashion with the Reds. In his first two months as an Angel, though, the 30-year-old performed like one of the majors’ worst starters, notching a 7.50 ERA/6.11 FIP with 6.56 K/9 against 3.94 BB/9 across 48 frames.
Ramirez, also 30, hasn’t taken the mound for the Angels since going under the knife last April. The righty managed effective results in 142 1/3 innings as a starter for the Angels in 2017, when he put up a 4.11 ERA (with a 4.67 FIP), 6.45 K/9, 2.97 BB/9 and a 51.4 percent groundball rate. A 95.5 mph fastball helped Ramirez achieve that success, though Triple-A Salt Lake broadcaster Steve Klauke tweeted last week that the hurler’s velocity has been far less imposing during his rehab work. That was again the case Friday, per Klauke, who reports Ramirez hovered around 88 to 92 mph while tossing six innings of three-run ball.
Sadly for the Angels, the upcoming returns of Harvey and Ramirez have taken on added importance in light of starter Tyler Skaggs’ passing this week. At 45-44 and 4 1/2 games out of playoff position, the club has an outside chance at earning a wild-card spot. But the Angels will need more from a starting staff which is trying its best to carry on under terrible circumstances. None of the Angels’ current options have posted exemplary production to this point, though there’s plenty of promise in the form of Andrew Heaney and the young tandem of Griffin Canning and Jose Suarez.
Angels starters have handed off to a bullpen which has received quality late-game production from Ty Buttrey, Hansel Robles and Cam Bedrosian. When Middleton comes back, the 25-year-old will add another high-octane arm to the group. With help from a 96 mph heater, the right-handed Middleton logged a 3.43 ERA/4.24 FIP with 9.36 K/9 and 3.2 BB/9 in 76 innings from 2017-18. He underwent surgery last May.
Not to be a jerk but Harvey hasn’t helped the angels at all this year I hope he does well but I don’t see him bringing us over the hump
even such a pitcher is need in blowout games either way.
I’m a little optimistic because of his quotes about working on his delivery and getting more velocity behind his pitches. The Angels staff is working to separate the motion of his delivery so that his torso rotates after his hip rotation, which will help him both with velocity and deception as the ball will be behind him for longer. A guy with that much talent and a willingness to adjust his delivery and work with the pitching staff is due to bounce back (if fully healthy).
I agree. I hope they end up using him as long relief or if fans are lucky the Halo’s just release him. JC had a ton of promise before the injury, so I hope him and Middleton coming back are the real boost the Angels need to try and get that final wild card spot.
Halos are a solid 3rd place team.
it will never be a first place team in al west but has a strong chance to be a #2. and that is an over-achievement considering all the injuries and worse.
Never is a long time…..
especially when you are 3 feet under?
“what a stupid i am!” i meant this season. my apologies!
If Arte Moreno decides to spend money on the rotation in the offseason, I think they will battle the astros for first place. Their line up is set up perfect right now, But I also wouldn’t mind them getting anthony rendon or mike moustakus.
This is a fun bit.
Shane – It’s awesome how you say things as though you know but never back up what you say with facts. Typical nonsense.
Its a cut and paste comment he puts into every Angels article. Like clockwork.
Harvey’s contract has incentives that kick in at 15 starts, he’s currently at 10.
Just another layer to the saga.
long relief if he can handle.
You mean if he accepts the role?
if he doesn’t suspend him without pay.
The Angels should make a run at Trevor Bauer. Indians won’t resign him because of his salary demands in arbitration.
That was before the news about Carrasco…the Indians might feel differently now.
This team wasn’t built to be a legit contender this year unless something miraculous happened. I think this was all about setting up for 2020 when Ohtani can pitch again and all the pitchers coming back from TJ or other issues are healthy (to start the year).
Outfield is set with Adell coming up plus Goodwin or other options. Bullpen will look good plus the addition of Middleton coming back. Infield has a ton of options for 3B/2B, Cozart coming back for a contract year will add to that.
Sign one or two front-line SPs and a maybe a better 1B and Catcher option and this team looks really good. Being closer to Pujols’s salary going away so much easier to spend a little more for the short term.
Ryu to the Angels next year.
Imagine having Mike Trout in his prime and as a Front Office deciding to invest $20M in Matt Harvey & Trevor Cahill (plus incentives) on 1 Yr deals? Didn’t even get the benefit of 2nd Yr club options for their $20M guaranteed commitment. Unfortunately it gets worst with $9M to Cody Allen who gets released prior to the All Star Break. Gambling on rebounds was a huge mistake of the FO. Shocked given their level of incompetence Trout committed to the Halos long term.
agreed. Allen, Cahill, and Harvey have been disasters. none of them will be back next year. but it’s not incompetence. it’s baseball. it happens with every team.
but don’t forget the decisions to sign LaStella and Goodwin. there was no “incompetence” there.
Release him now, let the young guys come up and learn.
cut Harvey now and move on.