ANAHEIM -- Seeking to add a fresh arm to their relief corps ahead of Tuesday's bullpen game against the Rockies, the Angels recalled right-hander Taylor Cole and optioned left-hander Williams Jerez to Triple-A Salt Lake.
Cole, 29, started the Angels' last bullpen game in Texas and has posted a 4.19 ERA in 19 1/3 innings in 11 appearances with the club this season. He will be able to offer some length out of the bullpen behind right-hander Noe Ramirez, who made his first career start on Tuesday.
The Angels have been forced to rely on their bullpen to fill the gaps in their rotation left by the injuries to Tyler Skaggs and Nick Tropeano.
"It's certainly not your first choice," manager Mike Scioscia said. "We're going to have to try to just piece it together and see if we can get to some of our back-end guys at some point. It's where we are right now. It's where we are in our rotation."
Tuesday marked the club's third staff game this month, though they are hoping to regain some rotation depth soon, as right-handers Matthew Shoemaker and Shohei Ohtani could return to pitch in the Majors as early as next week, barring any setbacks.
Shoemaker (right forearm surgery) is slated to throw 60-70 pitches in a rehab start with Class A Advanced Inland Empire on Wednesday, while Ohtani (UCL sprain) completed a 50-pitch simulated game at Angel Stadium on Monday.
Skaggs (left adductor strain) and Tropeano (right shoulder inflammation) have resumed throwing, but "they've got a ways to go," according to Scioscia.
More injury updates
• The Angels are hoping Justin Upton (finger laceration) will be able to return from the disabled list on Thursday in Houston. Upton resumed hitting on Tuesday, though he still hasn't gotten the stitches removed from his left index finger, which he cut while cleaning a wine glass on Aug. 19.
• Right-hander JC Ramirez tweeted Tuesday that he has been cleared to begin throwing next week. Ramirez made only two starts for the Angels this season before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April.