The Los Angeles Angels entered the season with series questions about their rotation. The backend was suspect, C.J. Wilson would be out until mid-June and there were few options in the system after the organization traded away its top pitching prospects for Andrelton Simmons.
Now things have gotten a lot worse for the Angels, with Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan reporting that Los Angeles' ace Garrett Richards needs Tommy John Surgery after it was discovered he has a torn UCL. While the club has not confirmed the report, it's a near certainty it will be announced shortly and Richards will then require TJS in a few weeks.
It's a brutal blow for Richards, as the 27-year-old was in the early stages of a strong season with a 2.34 ERA and 34 strikeouts in six starts. Now he will likely be out until around the 2017 All Star Break.
The news couldn't have come at a worse time for the Angels. Passan also reported that fellow starter Andrew Heaney has UCL damage, but is trying to rehabilitate the injury and avoid TJS. If Heaney's rehabilitation efforts are unsuccessful, a thin rotation will have lost two starters for the next year-plus with few options behind them.
Matt Shoemaker, who was sent down to Triple-A after registering a 9.15 ERA in 20 2/3 innings pitched, should come up and take Richards spot in the rotation.