The Los Angeles Angels optioned Luke Bard to their alternate site today, recalling Patrick Sandoval in his place, per Jason Martinez of Roster Resource over at Fangraphs.
Sandoval made his major-league debut last season going 0-4 across 10 appearances (9 starts). His first start of the season came last week in a 10-2 Angels win over the Mariners. Sandoval didn’t get the win as he lasted only 4 innings, though he more than did his part in contributing to the win. Sandoval threw 62 pitches – 40 for strikes – notching 4 strikeouts, walking one, and giving up 2 runs (though only 1 was earned). The 23-year-old southpaw entered the year as the Angels’ #7-ranked prospect per MLB.com, #6 by Fangraphs. The Angels certainly hope/expect the lefty and his 55-grade curveball will establish himself as a rotation mainstay – a role they’ve struggled to consistently fill over the years.
Sandoval made his second start of the season tonight, going six strong innings while allowing two runs. He’s quickly becoming a favorite of manager Joe Maddon. While the plan was for Sandoval to throw between 70-80 pitches, Maddon allowed him to hang around for 94. Sandoval continues to develop nicely after the Angels acquired him from Houston for Martin Maldonado just before the 2018 trade deadline.
Bard, 29, is looking to establish himself as a righty out of Maddon’s pen. Across 32 appearances last season, Bard logged 49 innings with a 4.78 ERA/4.81 FIP, showing off his ability to hold the line for multiple innings at a time if need be. He has just one inning so far this season – it was scoreless. In all likelihood, he’ll find himself back in the Angels’ pen before too long.
are they still working with a 6 man rotation even with Ohtani out?
No
Kid looked good today.
Yeah was thinking the same thing. I’m no Angels fan but this kid looks like he has some legit talent if he can put it all together he could really be a valuable P for them going forward. Especially given that he seems to have solid swing and miss type stuff (as evident by his K/9 #’s in the minors) he seems like a guy that if starting doesn’t wind up working out — he could still be a really valuable high leverage guy out of the pen — however at 23 he also looks like he’s got a legit shot to stick as a starter as well – granted he only went 4 innings today… he still seems to have a solid arsenal that could stick in the rotation long term.
He went 6 innings, and only gave up a two run shot to Gallo.
Luckily Allard was taken out after the 5th today, because the only 2 runs of the game today came on a homer by Gallo in the… 6th, and it came off of Sandoval, whom was stretched out to the 6th unlike Allard. Good game today btw.
The Rangers bullpen has SUCKED so far this season, but in this series, it’s like a switch was flipped because they are terrific. Montero is now our closer, with Hernandez falling into the setup man role. And tbh, when Leclerc comes back, I hope that Leclerc gets pushed back into a middle relief role with J-Rod and Volquez. The only bad part is that Leclerc, J-Rod, Martin, and Palumbo are all left handed, and I do not trust Chavez even as a middle reliever, and even though Volquez has had some good outings, I don’t trust him much either. I hope they bring up Demarcus Evans soon, but right now we have two aging guys that I really do not trust putting in innings.
The Angels seem to bring out the best in another team’s bullpen. When Rendon, Ohtani, Pujols, and Upton are hitting well below .200 pitchers tend to look good…and I’m an Angels fan
I’m not arguing lol. Ohtani has looked lost.
Me either. Rangers pen has looked strong this serieswith some hard throwers. But half the Angels look lost. When Max Stassi is your 3rd best hitter that says something. And I like him and he seems more confident this year.
Luke Bard’s 2017 where he struck out a whopping 99 in 65 IPs (good for a 13.6 K/9) is really rather strange that he hasn’t even come close to numbers like that since. Wonder what it was that made him so effective at generating swings and misses that year that he hasn’t been able to replicate since.
Because it was at AAA and Bard is just another journeyman.
I knew Bard was Daniel’s brother… but had no idea they were also cousins of John Andreoli (the OF) that’s pretty cool! Apparently theyre a big baseball family! If I’m not mistaken there was also a 3rd brother who was a LH-RP in the minors at one point.
Angels to use P Sandoval as a pitcher !!
Dark horse.