Overworked Angels bullpen has already called for reinforcements

The Angels bullpen pitched 16 innings in the first four games of the season, less than only four other teams in baseball that have played four games or less. The unsustainable workload has already caused some shuffling of the roster.

In need of a fresh arm in the bullpen, the Angels recalled A.J. Achter from Triple-A on Saturday. Cam Bedrosian was sent down a day after his two wild pitches led to a Rangers run in Friday’s 7-3 loss to Texas.

Bedrosian, who has pitched two innings in four games, was likely just the odd man out, considering several Angels relievers can’t be sent down because they are out of options. Among those out of options is Cory Rasmus, a natural candidate to be sent to the minors after pitching 2 2/3 innings Friday courtesy of starter Matt Shoemaker’s abbreviated outing.

Achter posted impressive numbers in spring training, allowing just one earned run in 10 ⅔ innings. Continue reading “Overworked Angels bullpen has already called for reinforcements” »

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Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus dishes on brother Cory, the Angels’ newest prospect.

Colby Rasmus

Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus batted against his brother in a major-league game for the first time in May and hit a double. (Getty Images)

New Angels pitcher Cory Rasmus, acquired Monday in the Scott Downs trade with Atlanta, has an advance scout in the visitor’s clubhouse this weekend. A really-far-out-in-advance scout.

Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus is older than Cory by about 15 months. Cory isn’t with the Angels yet — he’s at Triple-A Salt Lake — but Colby has decent idea of what Angels fans can expect from his younger brother once he arrives.

“We played together from the time we was little bitty,” Colby Rasmus said.
Continue reading “Toronto Blue Jays center fielder Colby Rasmus dishes on brother Cory, the Angels’ newest prospect.” »

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Angels trade Scott Downs to Atlanta for Cory Rasmus.

Scott  Downs

Scott Downs’ 1.84 earned-run average was the lowest among Angels relievers. (Getty Images)

The Angels traded Scott Downs to the Atlanta Braves for Triple-A pitcher Cory Rasmus on Monday, two days before baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline.

Rasmus, who made his major-league debut in May, is the brother of Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus. He’ll go straight to Triple-A Salt Lake. The Angels recalled left-handed reliever Nick Maronde from Double-A Arkansas and activated him for tonight’s game in Texas (4 p.m. PST, ESPN).
Continue reading “Angels trade Scott Downs to Atlanta for Cory Rasmus.” »

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