The LA Angels are getting help from unlikely sources.

Bud Norris – 1-2 2.92 ERA 9 saves 1.01 WHIP

Bud Norris has had some good years in the majors and also some very bad years. The last couple of seasons, Norris has been awful as he went 9-21 with a 6.10 ERA while pitching for four different teams.  This winter no one wanted to give Norris an opportunity despite the fact that his fastball can reach the mid-90’s.

That was until Billy Eppler came to the rescue in January inviting Norris to Spring Training as a non-roster player (which means he is not guaranteed a contract). Norris started off shaking in his first Spring outing pitching 1.2 innings allowing three walks and two hits, but surprisingly no runs.

Norris did get better as the Spring went on and was even be considered for the 5th starter spot which was eventually won by another journeyman Jesse Chavez. Norris ended up 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in the Spring pitching in eight games.  In 13.1 innings of work Norris allowed only four runs and struck out a whopping 18 batters while holding opponents to a .163 batting average.

Surprisingly he did not when the 5th starter spot despite his strong numbers. However, he did make the Opening Day Roster which Norris was grateful for.  He started the year in the Angels bullpen as their long man pitching about every two to three days. However as Ange fans know your opportunity on the pitching staff is one tweaked muscle away.

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About 10 games into the season set-up man Andrew Bailey was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation which bumped Norris up to the set-up role in the Angels bullpen.  In four outings in this role Norris pitched very well in three of them before getting touched for two runs against Toronto on April 21st.

Then it happened again as closer Cam Bedrosian tweaked a groin muscle which had sidelined him for the first 2.5 weeks of the Spring and he landed n the DL as well.  So now the Angels were really scrambling as all three of their pitchers with closer experience were now on the DL.

Enter Bud Norris 5.0.  Manager Mike Scioscia gave Norris the ball the very next day against Toronto and the eight-year veteran delivered his third save of his career with a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the Angels victory.  Since then he has delivered eight more times for a total of nine saves in eleven opportunities.

In 24.2 innings this season Norris 32 strikeouts and only 10 walks allowing opposing batters to hit a paltry .172 against him. Not bad for a major league cast off that nobody wanted.  More importantly with Norris has solidified the closer role which was a major issue for the Angels due to injuries and ineffectiveness in 2016.