The Angels have used 20 pitchers this season and could soon hand the ball to a 21st.

One day after he allowed four runs in two innings in a spot start against the Kansas City Royals, Barry Enright was designated for assignment. That allowed the Angels to select the contract of Triple-A right-hander Billy Buckner and add him to the major-league roster Thursday.

The Angels also optioned Michael Roth to Double-A Arkansas and recalled Ryan Brasier from Triple-A Salt Lake for the second time this season.

There are 23 pitchers on the Angels’ 40-man roster, including Andrew Taylor (on the 60-day disabled list since the season began), Ryan Madson (who could come off the disabled list in the coming weeks) and Tommy Hanson (on the restricted list). Of the others, only Buckner and Brandon Sisk haven’t appeared in a game for the Angels this season.

Including this season, the Angels have only used 20 pitchers four times in team history. Robert Coello became the 20th Sunday. The Angels had never previously used their 20th pitcher that early in the calendar year.

“In the short term we certainly need some length,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “We threw a lot of pitching last night. Just get some fresh arms back there is important. Our roster is definitely a living organism right now. It keeps moving, keeps rotating. So we’re not going to be at — what are we, 117 pitchers on our roster? We’re not going to stay there for a while, but for the short term we do need the help.”

Roth became the second player drafted in 2012 to reach the major leagues and the first to start a game on April 24. He allowed 14 runs in 14 innings spanning nine appearances.

Enright made four appearances, allowing 12 runs in 8 1/3 innings (a 12.96 earned-run average).

Brasier has pitched in two games for the Angels this season, allowing two runs. He had a 6.88 ERA in 13 games for Triple-A Salt Lake.

Buckner went 4-2 with a 4.56 ERA in eight starts for Salt Lake but will be used as a reliever, at least initially, in Anaheim. He was used as a reliever in 15 of his 36 major-league appearances between 2007-10 for the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks.