Dodgers pitcher Mat Latos was demoted to the bullpen briefly in August, and now will miss a crucial start against the Angels with a stiff neck. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff photographer)

ANAHEIM — If Mat Latos needed a strong start Wednesday against the Angels to maintain a spot in the Dodgers’ September rotation, his latest injury is a real pain in the neck.

Latos was scratched because of a stiff neck that did not improve overnight, manager Don Mattingly said. Right-hander Joe Wieland will start against the Angels instead.

Will Latos get another chance to start a game for the Dodgers?

“We haven’t really gotten too much past this start,” Mattingly said. “We’ve got five guys, I’m thinking Mat’s going to be back. It’s just something that crept up on us. I don’t look at it like he’s totally gone. I think he’ll still be available. We’ll see how things go.”

Latos is 0-2 in five starts for the Dodgers since he was acquired a day before the July 31 trade deadline. He was knocked out after four innings in his last start against the Padres, a 10-7 loss Thursday. He declined to comment on his situation prior to the game.

There was some question coming into this week whether Latos or Mike Bolsinger would take Wednesday’s turn in the rotation, but Bolsinger threw a bullpen session Tuesday and will start Saturday against the Arizona Diamondbacks instead.

Wieland hasn’t appeared in a big league game since May 6 in Milwaukee. He allowed six runs in 4 ⅔ innings that day.

In 18 starts since then for Triple-A Oklahoma City, Wieland has a 4.80 earned-run average — a number certainly inflated by a .316 opponents’ batting average and .370 batting average on balls in play.

Austin Barnes is catching Wieland tonight.

“I caught him a lot” at Triple-A, Barnes said. “He commands both sides of the plate well. Good feel for his fastball. Has a pretty good idea where he wants to throw it. Fastball, curve, changeup.

“He was pitching well toward the end — really well, actually.”

The Dodgers have 23 games left in the regular season after today. Their starting rotation has only been mapped out for the next five: Alex Wood (Friday in Arizona), Mike Bolsinger (Saturday in Arizona), Zack Greinke (Sunday in Arizona), Clayton Kershaw (Monday in Colorado) and Brett Anderson (Tuesday in Colorado).

Here’s more from Mattingly on Latos: