ANAHEIM, Calif. -- After pitching a full inning in the seventh on Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Blue Jays, Hunter Strickland has been placed on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation.
In a corresponding move, the Los Angeles Angels went ahead and called up pitcher Victor Mederos for Strickland, 36, as he will be placed on the 15-day injured list.
"It got stiff a little bit during the game early so I went down and stretched just to kind of stay on top of it," Strickland said. "Felt it when I was warming up in the pen and then it gradually got worse and worse. Then obviously the game. Turned out okay but it was just had to kind of bit your lip and grind through it."
Over the offseason, Strickland signed with the Texas Rangers but only appeared in two games during spring training. Midway through spring training, he was released by the Rangers in March and then resigned on a minor league deal. On May 5, he was released for the second time by the Rangers and signed a minor league deal with the Angels the next day. On May 18, the Angels selected his contract and called him up to the MLB roster.
Strickland is in the middle of his third stint with the Angels and has been outstanding out of the bullpen, owning a 3.27 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 1 save in 19 games.
He is set to get an MRI done on Tuesday.
Mederos is set to make his return to the MLB roster for the second time this season after appearing in one game on April 25, against the Twins.
During that game, he pitched 3 innings of relief and gave up two hits and two runs.
In the minors this year, Mederos has appeared in 77 innings, holding a 3.97 ERA and 61 strikeouts.
In 2023, Mederos made his MLB debut with the Angels after being called up from Double-A.
"He's gone through every level and worked his way through," Angels interim manager Ray Montgomery said. "Obviously the stuff initially was good enough. Now the execution in doing those adjustments."
Yusei Kikuchi To represent Angels in All-Star Game
Sunday night, Yusei Kikuchi was selected to his second career All-Star game as he will be the only Angels player to represent the team at this year's All-Star game in Atlanta.
The Angels signed Kikuchi, 34, to a 3 year $63.7 million deal over the offseason, the largest contract the Angels have given to a pitcher since they signed C.J. Wilson in 2011.
"Super deserving," Montgomery said. "Everything he's done since he's been here from the person on field stuff to the competitor has been nothing but advertised. Maybe even better."
This season, Kikuchi has been as advertised, pitching with a 2.81 ERA with 106 strikeouts in 18 starts.
Over his last five starts, Kikuchi has a 2-1 record with an ERA of 1.93 with 43 strikeouts.
"Probably the biggest thing is when you have a guy like that at the front of your rotation stabilizes everything. He's been in every game," Montgomery said. "... He just goes out. Goes about his business. Does his work. And gives us quality efforts everytime out."
Yoán Moncada Update
Last week, Yoán Moncada appeared in two games with the Angels rookie ball club in Arizona.
Playing five innings yesterday, Moncada is anticipated to play in a full nine innings tonight.
While Montgomery has no update on when he will return to the lineup, he did say he believes Moncada will be back soon and will not need to do a rehab assignment in the minors.
Montgomery also added that Moncada has not seen any left-handed pitching yet, but the team will be working on his timeline.
"We'll see how he comes out of it every day," Montgomery said. "He's kind of dictating to us how he feels. That's the most important thing. And as much as we need him here and he knows that. He's gotta be careful too."
What's Next?
The Angels will open game one of a four game series Monday night against the Rangers. After spending the last week itching to get back above .500, the Angels were swept over the weekend by the Toronto Blue Jays and have fallen to a record of 43-46, 4.5 games out of the wild card.
On Mound tonight?
Angels: Yusei Kikuchi; 3-6, 2.81 ERA, 106 strikeouts, 1.37 WHIP
Rangers: Jacob deGrom; 9-2, 2.13 ERA, 100 strikeouts, 0.89 WHIP