Rotation Injury Updates

[love_that_reefer]

John Lackey (forearm) and Ervin Santana (elbow) will head to extended spring training Thursday to participate in live games.
Lackey and Santana are expected to throw two innings Friday and another two on Saturday. They're both rehabbing at nearly the same pace, and are both eyeing an early May return. That would obviously provide a major boost for the 5-9 Angels.

Angels transfered Kelvim Escobar to the 60-day disabled list.
Escobar (shoulder) isn't eligible to return until early June now. He shouldn't have been counted on by fantasy owners anyway, but those still holding out hope for some first-half production can forget about it.

Add Darren Oliver to that list who made a spot start and went straight to the 15 DL. Lackey and Santana returning in a couple of weeks will be a major boost to this team. It has been a rough first month for the Angels losing Adenhart, Vlad going down and the bullpen blowing games. Hopefully May will bring brighter days.

[cjkalt]

This team just isn't very good, there bullpen isn't as good as the past and the crippling injuries in the rotation only magnifies the weakness of the lineup

[DirtyKash]

I'm willing to wager that Escobar makes 5 or fewer starts this season. Things just don't look promising.

[love_that_reefer]

Definitely not taking that wager.

[love_that_reefer]

Ervin Santana allowed four hits, including two home runs, before reaching his 60 pitch limit after 4 2/3 innings Monday.
"Today is fine," Santana said. "Let's see how it feels tomorrow." The homers are a concern and his fastball velocity barely reached into the 90s, so he could be asked to make one more rehab outing before joining the Angels.

Encouraging to see he got to 4.2 IP with just 60 pitches.

[love_that_reefer]

John Lackey allowed just a single hit in 4 2/3 innings during a rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake on Tuesday night.
Lackey threw 40 of his 61 pitches for strikes and, most importantly, reported no issues with his forearm. He'll make another start for Salt Lake on Sunday, then could get the call to rejoin the Angels. He's been out all season.

The Angels have to be pleased with the outing of Santana and now Lackey. Once the Angels get these two back, they should be in first place before you know it.

[hot_corner_gurl]

The Angels have to be pleased with the outing of Santana and now Lackey. Once the Angels get these two back, they should be in first place before you know it.

No not that, anything but that! They already swept us, even without their ace(s) (depending on whether you consider Saunders to be an ace or not). Having any one of those three guys back will just allow the Halos to annihilate us that much easier. Not cool.

[love_that_reefer]

Ervin Santana (elbow) gave up three hits and two runs over five innings Saturday.
He whiffed four and walked one, throwing 50 of 79 pitches for strikes. He has the potential to rejoin the rotation this week. If he does, it will be in Texas.

Angels could use him to take on the first place Rangers.

[love_that_reefer]

Making his second rehab start, John Lackey (forearm) gave up three runs over five innings Sunday for Triple-A Salt Lake.
Lackey struck out five and walked none in the 75-pitch outing. The Angels haven't committed to activating him and starting him this weekend, but it is pretty likely that he'll get the call on Friday or Saturday.

With the Angels only .5 games out of first right now, the AL West should start worrying.

[love_that_reefer]

Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) allowed just one hit over six scoreless innings in his rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday.
He struck out eight and walked none. Escobar is likely to rejoin the Angel rotation after just one more start in the minors. Unless Ervin Santana is returned to the DL, then Matt Palmer could be demoted to make room.

We just might actually see Kelvim Escobar pitch again.