LA Angels might regret releasing Matt Harvey with Andrew Heaney going on IL

The LA Angels. Continue to be hit with injuries since the All-Star Break as Mike Trout missed three games with a calf strain and now Andrew Heaney has gone on the IL with left shoulder inflammation.

The LA Angels got extremely lucky as Mike Trout is now back in the line-up and Albert Pujols missed only one game with what was first thought to be a hamstring issue, but was determined to only be minor cramping.  However, Andrew Heaney was not so lucky as he has been placed on the IL with shoulder inflamation and will be out indefinitely.

With that being said, should the Angels have dispatched Matt Harvey so quickly.  Jaime Barria is obviously not the answer as he has been extremely inconsistent even more so than Harvey.  Dillon Peters will start tomorrow, but he has not been the answer so far either.  So I again ask the question, If the Angels knew Heaney was ailing before the All-Star Break why would they be so hasty to release Harvey.  I know he has not been good this season, but I think he is better than Barria or Peters…

The wild-card of this could be J.C. Ramirez as he should be back soon and could fill Heaney’s spot in the rotation.  The rotation that once looked promising a few weeks ago is crumbling as we speak.  I think the best five pitchers the Angels could use from what they have now is Griffin Canning, Felix Pena, JC Ramirez, Jose Suarez, and a big question mark which Harvey could have filled.  The other two wild-cards could be lefty Adalberto Mejia, who the Angels just acquired from the Twins on Friday night, or returning Trevor Cahill from the bullpen to the rotation.

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We will have to see what happens in the next week which will determine what the Angels will do.  Hopefully Heaney won’t be out for an extended period which would help immensely.  If Heaney is only out the minimum 10 days the Angels could also do a bullpen start or two.  The road will not be easy as the Angels have to face the Dodgers Tuesday and Wednesday in Los Angeles before returning home next weekend to face the Orioles and Tigers. These are the games the Angels need to win to get closer in the wild-card race.  Both the Orioles and Tigers have been very bad this season and the Angels need to take full advantage of this and hopefully win at least 5 of 7 or even 6 of the 7 games they play against the two cellar dwellers.

There is a slim chance that Harvey could clear waivers and the Angels could bring him back to help out in the interim, but he would have to spend at least 10 days in the minors before returning.  More than likely Harvey has pitched his last game in Angel red and most fans are very thankful for that.  All I can say is be careful what you wish for.  Harvey was not good for sure, but who knows how Mejia might be and Peters ND Barria are a crapshoot as well.

If Heaney is out for an extended period of time, it will make things that much tougher.  Let’s just wait and see.