The Los Angeles Angels placed starting pitcher Jose Soriano on the 15-day injured list on Saturday due to right arm fatigue. Soriano was removed from his start on Friday against the Atlanta Braves after 3.2 innings due to fatigue, and manager Ron Washington did so in an effort to avoid further injury.
Soriano has been one of the Angels’ best and most consistent pitchers this season after beginning the year not in the Major League rotation. He has a 3.42 ERA and 1.204 WHIP with a 126 ERA+ in 113 innings of work. He missed some time due to an abdominal infection, but has been strong when available.
Washington explained exactly why he felt he needed to take Soriano out of Friday’s game and how that led to the injured list stint for the young starter, according to Dan Arritt of The O.C. Register:
“My eyes told me he was tired by the third inning, so when we got to the fourth, he was really tired,” Angels manager Ron Washington said before Saturday’s game. “I was taking him out so he didn’t hurt himself because he was going to gut it out.”
While this type of injury is something that can quickly lead to a worse diagnosis, Soriano didn’t seem concerned when discussing the injury.
“I’m not worried about it being a major injury, it’s just starting to fatigue,” Soriano said through an interpreter. “I’m just going to work to come back as soon as I can.”
Washington does not believe that Soriano will be out for the rest of the regular season. He is eligible to return to the rotation on Sep. 1, and his goal is to get Soriano back for at least a couple more starts before the season ends.
“His arm is tired and we just want to give him a break,” Washington said. “When he comes back, try to fit him in and finish the season.”
The Angels have not had the best of luck with pitcher health this season, but they still have plenty to look forward to with Soriano’s career. He is only 25 years old and has already established himself as a legitimate Major League starter.
Angels’ Logan O’Hoppe relieved to end drought
Entering Friday’s matchup against the Braves, Logan O’Hoppe had gone hitless seven games in a row while also dealing with right knee soreness. His drought reached an 0-for-29 stretch before O’Hoppe turned his fortune around.
In his second at-bat against the Braves, O’Hoppe ended the skid with a game-tying, two-run home run in the fourth inning.