DIVISIONAL OUTLOOK: AL West—Richards returns to pen

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Prompted by a rotation unable to go deep into games and an injury-ravaged bullpen, the Angels announced a role-switch between Garrett Richards (RHP, LAA) and Jerome Williams (RHP, LAA). The move says more about the Angels pen these days—currently with Ryan Madson, Sean Burnett and Kevin Jepsen all on the DL, and Scott Downs day-to-day—than it does about Richards, who has pitched better than his 5.12 ERA entering Monday (3.76 xERA) suggests. Mgr Mike Scioscia's most immediate need is a bat-missing power arm that would bridge to closer Ernesto Frieri, and one that can absorb multiple innings if necessary. The rotation's dreadful performance to date suggests that Richards could get another shot once the...

More From PT Tomorrow