Matt Shoemaker struggles again, causes concern in rotation role

Yeah, it was one start.

Sure, it’s a small sample size.

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You’re right, it’s only the first week of the season.

But a disappointing appearance by the Angels Matt Shoemaker on Friday night put doubt in the minds of those who already question the stability of the Halos rotation.

The Rangers’ offense had been relatively quiet so far this season, but they lit up Shoemaker early.

The 29-year-old started the game by giving up a walk, three-straight singles, and then a double, all consecutively, which allowed the Rangers to take a 3-0 lead before a single out was recorded in the top of the first inning.

He went on to give up a two-run home run to Rougned Odor in the top of the third, and was responsible for a run scoring in the fourth. The Angels would go on to lose the game, 7-3.

Shoemaker’s final statline? Six earned runs on seven hits in just three innings with a trio of walks and only a pair of strikeouts.

The tough performance came on the heels of a brilliant outing by Hector Santiago the night before, where Santiago gave up only a pair of runs in six strong innings. He also struck out seven.

Friday night was a chance for Shoemaker to show that he has the ability to return to his magical 2014-self where he went 16-4 with a 3.04 ERA and was in the running for Rookie of the Year.

Instead, he looked as uncomfortable on the mound as he has since the start of 2015. Last year he struggled to a 7-10 record with a 4.46 ERA while giving up 10 more long balls than the previous year.

As spring started this year, he found himself in a competition to be the team’s fifth starter and had the chance to solidify his role in a rotation that was to include Garrett Richards, Jered Weaver, C.J. Wilson and Santiago. Instead, he failed to make a memorable impression. Or rather, a good impression.

He finished the month of March with a 2-2 record and a 7.65 ERA, mostly ballooned from an outing against the Reds where he gave up seven runs and 10 hits in three innings early in the month.

He had an April start against the Cubs that included two earned runs in five innings and four strikeouts, but had it not been for a string of injuries in the rotation, I’m not sure he would have received the call to start the season as the No. 5 guy.

With the way the Angels offense has been performing this week, starting pitching has become that much more important.

Unfortunately, now the Angels are 1-3 to start a year for the fifth time in seven years, and the pressure falls on the team’s ace to help turn things around Saturday night in Anaheim.

Richards is great, but the back of the rotation needs to step up and help him out, especially with Andrew Heaney now on the 15-day DL, Wilson still shut down from throwing, Weaver still experience neck discomfort, and Tyler Skaggs still recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Nick Tropeano will get the nod on Monday in place of Heaney and if he out-performs Shoemaker early on, I think there’s a chance he could end up taking the No. 5 job.

Shoemaker has been given multiple opportunities to get it together but he may be nothing more than a spot starter for the near future if he can’t get his stuff together.

Yeah, it was one start.

Sure, it’s a small sample size.

You’re right, it’s only the first week of the season.

But if the Shoe don’t fit…