Garrett Richards returns to form for the LA Angels

The LA Angels have been anxiously waiting for Garrett Richards to return to the major league roster.

After a strong first performance against Oakland, Richards took the mound for the LA Angels in Anaheim for the first time this season. Richards only made one start back in April against Texas before going on the disabled list with an arm injury.

More from Halo Hangout

• New York Post columnist has LA Angels bringing veteran starter back to LA
• Dodgers make wild mistake signing failed LA Angels starter
• Why LA Angels’ Qualifying Offer to Raisel Iglesias could become historical
• Both Gold Glove finalists for LA Angels getting snubbed is a complete joke
• Marcus Stroman definitely appears to be interested in the LA Angels

The Angels have been struggling recently to find anyone who can give them a quality start.  While lasting more than five innings for Richards was an unlikely possibility.  However, Richards did the best he could in the number of pitches he would be allowed to throw.

In all Richards threw only 63 pitches and lasted five innings giving up only one run throwing 45 strikes and only 18 balls.  If not for a two-out RBI- single by Yuril Gurriel that scored Carlos Correa in the second inning to take a 1-0 lead.  The Astros newest acquisition Justin Verlander shut the Angels down allowing only one hit in eight innings to help the Astros to a 1-0 victory.

However, the story for the Angels on this night was the return of Garrett Richards to Anaheim.  If Richards can continue to pitch well down the stretch for the Angels it will go a long way in helping the team clinch a potential wild-card berth.

Richards would be the potential starter in a winner -take-all wild-card game potentially against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.  Richards would relish this chance to pitch in the playoffs. Especially after not being able to help the Angels in the playoffs in 2014 due to tearing his patella tendon in August of that year.

Next: Richards best candidate to start a one game wild-card game

The Angels would not have it any other way than having their ace Garrett Richards in an important game such as the wild-card game would be. Hopefully Richards and the Angels will get that chance here in 2017 if they can overcome the two game deficit they are facing right now in that wild-card race.  We will just have to wait and see what happens.