A Call to Arms: Pitchers that will Make the Los Angeles Angels roster?

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Andrew Heaney an up and coming lefty that should be in the Los Angeles Angels rotation for many years to come.Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Starting Rotation

The Los Angeles Angels starting rotation has been much maligned all Spring as everyone has been talking about it being a weakness. At the start of the Spring there were eight potential starting pitchers who could make the opening day roster. Due to injuries that number has dwindled to six pitchers fighting for five spots.

Garrett Richards is the Opening Day starter after going 15-12 with a 3.65 ERA in 2015. The Angels are hoping the 2014 Richards will return as he was 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA that season. The number two and number three starters Andrew Heaney and Hector Santiago are almost interchangeable in my opinion. They both have show flashes of brilliance in their time with the Angels. They both also struggled down the stretch last season both posting over 5 ERA’s after August 1st in 2015.

Now they have both have had great Spring’s and are primed for breakout seasons. Only time will tell if this will happen for either Heaney or Santiago.

Here is where things get murky the 4th and 5th starter spots. With Tyler Skaggs not quite ready to come back from injury and C.J. Wilson out indefinitely Nick Tropeano and Matt Shoemaker battled for the extra spot in the rotation. Both showed moments of brilliance and moments where they were so bad you would think they had never pitched before. In the end Shoemaker won the 5th starter spot mostly by default as he has more experience than Tropeano. Things could change if Jered Weaver is not able to make his first start during the second week of the season. As of now Weaver is the 4th/5th starter as is Shoemaker. When Tyler Skaggs comes back Shoemaker will most likely be sent to the bullpen or the minors.

So there are still some question marks with the Los Angeles Angels rotation, but things are falling into place now that season is almost here.

Wildcards –

With all of the injuries the wild-cards to crack the rotation are in the rotation already. If you want to talk about a wild-card you could mention newly-signed Kyle Kendrick as someone who could possibly crack the rotation. Kendrick and possibly either Nate Smith who had a couple of spot starts during the spring. Both would be last resort. An upcoming pitcher to keep your eye on Victor Alcantara as he could be a September call-up.

Roster Spots – 5

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