TEMPE, Ariz. -- Right-hander Yusmeiro Petit was added to the Angels' 25-man roster for Opening Day, the team announced Tuesday. The move further clarifies the club's personnel outlook for the regular season.
Petit signed a Minor League deal with the Halos in February, and had been in camp as a non-roster invitee, but he earned a spot on the team after logging a 0.75 ERA with 12 strikeouts and one walk over 12 Cactus League innings. The 32-year-old veteran will likely be used as a multi-inning reliever.
"I think he's a guy that knows his way around some tough situations coming out of the 'pen," manager Mike Scioscia said. "He throws strikes. He's got good command. His stuff is good. I think he's going to be an important part of our bullpen."
Petit has a 4.58 career ERA over nine Major League seasons, and has had stints with the Marlins, D-backs, Giants and Nationals.
Petit's contract stipulated the Angels needed to decide on his roster status by Tuesday, but the club has not made any announcements regarding their other non-roster invitees, most notably fellow bullpen contenders Bud Norris and Richard Parker.
Norris started against the A's on Tuesday and struck out five over two scoreless innings, lowering his spring ERA to 2.92. He and Parker appear well positioned to win jobs in the Angels' relief corps.
Petit is scheduled to start and throw a couple of innings against the Dodgers on Thursday in the Freeway Series at Angel Stadium, with left-hander Tyler Skaggs making a Minor League start in Arizona. Garrett Richards will start Friday's Freeway Series game and will be followed by Jesse Chavez on Saturday.
The identity of the Angels' Opening Day starter remains a mystery, though Matthew Shoemaker and Ricky Nolasco are the only viable candidates at this point. Nolasco faced a Cubs Minor League squad on Tuesday and could start the April 3 opener in Oakland on five days' rest, which will give his rotation mates an extra day of rest as well. Shoemaker, meanwhile, is slated to start the Angels' Cactus League finale Wednesday and could take the mound on Opening Day on normal rest.