Pitching puzzle for Angels with Sandoval hurt

This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ANAHEIM -- The Angels were dealt a tough blow on Friday, as left-hander Patrick Sandoval exited his start against the Dodgers in the third inning with what was initially diagnosed as left forearm tightness.

He was placed on the 15-day injured list on Saturday, but an MRI exam confirmed it was a left elbow strain. But the severity of the injury hasn’t been determined, so Sandoval is expected to get a second opinion and weigh his options.

There’s a chance he could need Tommy John surgery, which would keep him out of action until late in the 2025 season or until '26. The best-case scenario is like what right-hander Chase Silseth has gone through this season. He left his start against the Red Sox on April 7 and feared he tore his right ulnar collateral ligament, but luckily he only suffered an elbow strain. Silseth made his third rehab start with Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday, and he is close to being at full health.

Either way, the Angels will need somebody to replace Sandoval in an already thin rotation that is down to left-hander Tyler Anderson and right-hander Griffin Canning from their initial starting five to open the season. Canning starts Monday and Anderson on Tuesday, but the Halos will need starters for Wednesday and Thursday. Righty Zach Plesac was called up June 17 to join the rotation, and he has made two starts and is likely to get another.

But lefty Reid Detmers, who was optioned to Salt Lake on June 1, is still working on things with the Bees after posting a 6.14 ERA through his first 12 starts with the Angels. Right-hander José Soriano is also on the injured list until at least July 2 with an abdominal infection, while lefty Kenny Rosenberg, who has posted a 3.84 ERA in 12 starts with Salt Lake, is on the Minor League IL.

Here’s a look at the club’s current starting pitching options, including what’s been going on with Detmers and Silseth at Triple-A:

RHP Davis Daniel
Daniel has a solid chance of getting called up, as he’s on the 40-man roster and has had success in the Majors, with a 2.19 ERA in 12 1/3 innings in 2023. He last started on Thursday, allowing three runs over 6 2/3 innings against Triple-A Reno. He has a 5.33 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 76 innings in the high altitude at Salt Lake this year.

RHP Chase Silseth
Silseth would be an obvious candidate, as he made the rotation out of Spring Training before suffering an elbow strain in his start against Boston. But he’s struggled in Triple-A, posting a 10.22 ERA in three starts, including allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings on Friday. Manager Ron Washington said they’d like to see Silseth get on track before he’s activated. But the Angels might not have much of a choice.

LHP Reid Detmers
Detmers was hit hard in his first start at Triple-A after his demotion, allowing seven runs, including four homers, over five innings on June 7. But he's been better recently, with a 2.77 ERA over 13 innings in his last two starts. Washington said he'd like to see Detmers get another start and build on his two outings before he's called back up.

RHP Sam Bachman
Bachman wouldn’t be an immediate candidate, but he could join the rotation later this summer, as he just was activated and optioned to Double-A Rocket City on June 14. Bachman, the No. 9 overall selection in the 2021 Draft, is coming off right shoulder surgery and is being stretched out as a starter again after a stint in relief last year. Bachman allowed four runs over 4 1/3 innings on Sunday and has a 6.35 ERA in three starts at Double-A.

RHP Caden Dana
Dana, the club’s No. 2 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has been dominant with Rocket City, carrying a 2.39 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 75 1/3 innings. Like Bachman, he’s likely to be called up later this summer, but he has put himself firmly on the club’s radar despite being just 20 years old. The Angels, though, haven’t been shy when it comes to promoting young prospects to the Majors. He’s not on the 40-man roster, however.

RHP Brett Kerry
Kerry, a fifth-rounder in the 2021 Draft, earned a promotion to Salt Lake on April 19 and has posted a 4.87 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings over 11 starts. He’s not considered a top prospect, though he could give the Angels a spot start or two this year, if needed. He’s also not on the 40-man.