Angels may alter rotation for matchups
ANAHEIM -- With two off-days in the next six days, the Angels have a rare chance to shift their rotation, an opportunity manager Mike Scioscia said the Angels would probably capitalize on.
"There will be some things we're going to look at," Scioscia said. "We're going to see how guys come out of [their next starts], we'll have the opportunity to do some things."
Prior to Saturday's 19-inning marathon, the Angels were ready to trot out Matt Shoemaker and C.J. Wilson against the Phillies on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. But Shoemaker threw three innings of emergency relief Saturday to earn the win and was scratched from Tuesday's start.
Scioscia said Wilson would move up to take Shoemaker's spot. He did not announce a Wednesday starter, though it could be Shoemaker or Jered Weaver.
The two-game series against Philadelphia is sandwiched around off-days, the Angels' last of August. The club will play 17 straight days after Thursday's respite, including seven games against division-leading Oakland.
Will Scioscia line up his rotation to prepare for crucial series against the Athletics?
"That is a consideration," Scioscia said.
If the Angels kept their current rotation for the next two weeks, they would send out Hector Santiago, Shoemaker and Wilson at Oakland from Aug. 22-24.
They could, though, reshuffle the order and have Santiago pitch on his normal four days' rest next Friday, which would free up either Garrett Richards or Weaver to pitch against Oakland down the line.
What wasn't a consideration, according to Scioscia, was skipping the struggling Wilson's upcoming turn in the rotation. Scioscia also said bringing back guys on short rest simply to match up against a team was not an option.
"We have a long way to go and we need all five of these guys continuing to throw the ball well," Scioscia said. "If there's a possibility of matching up, you always try to take advantage of it, but that doesn't become the primary focus right now. That's secondary to making sure these guys get what they need and are strong and ready to go."