ANAHEIM -- Angels closer Huston Street, slogging through the worst season of his distinguished career, landed on the disabled list for the second time this season on Tuesday because of what the team announced as inflammation in his right knee.
Street, who turned 33 on Tuesday, has been battling the issue "on and off" for the last week and the knee "got really inflamed" when he blew a three-run, ninth-inning lead against the Red Sox on Sunday, manager Mike Scioscia said.
The Angels called up homegrown right-handed reliever Mike Morin to fill Street's spot in the bullpen and will go with a closer-by-committee in the interim, even though Cam Bedrosian -- 0.90 ERA, with 51 strikeouts in 40 innings -- has pitched superbly.
"Cam will certainly be part of that committee," Scioscia said pregame, before Bedrosian struck out the side to record his first career save in the Angels' 5-4 win over the A's. "But there are times when you're going to want to use Cam in the eighth inning against a certain matchup instead of the ninth."
The Angels dealt former setup man Joe Smith to the Cubs on Monday, but Scioscia mentioned JC Ramírez (2.08 ERA in 17 appearances with the Angels) and Fernando Salas (one run in his last seven innings) as other late-inning options.
Morin, 25, posted a 2.90 ERA in 60 appearances as a rookie in 2014, but has since put up a 5.66 ERA in 82 games in the Majors.
Street took a cortisone shot on Tuesday that he hopes will allow him to return in two to three weeks. The veteran right-hander entered the season with a 2.85 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and a 3.81 strikeout-to-walk ratio from 2005-15, but has a 6.45 ERA, a 1.93 WHIP and a 1.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first 26 appearances of 2016.
"We're going to let the cortisone injection run its course on the knee," Street said. "And when it's pain free, start throwing again."
White flag?
Scioscia doesn't buy into the belief that the Angels -- 11 games below .500 and 14 1/2 games out of first place entering play Tuesday -- essentially punted on the season by trading Smith and starting pitcher Héctor Santiago. In exchange, they received three starting pitchers -- veteran Ricky Nolasco, former first-round pick Alex Meyer and lower-level Minor Leaguer Jesus Castillo.
"There's absolutely no white flag being rung up," Scioscia said. "We hope that some of the young arms that we have, not only here but in Triple-A, will absorb Joe's role. And we'll move forward with what we think has the potential to be a deeper rotation very shortly if Meyer gets to be where he can be."
Pennington joins Petit
Cliff Pennington (left hamstring) was activated off the DL, joining Gregorio Petit as the second utility infielder on the roster. Petit, out of options, gave himself a chance to stay by learning how to play left field. Both can sub in late for defense, and Scioscia said Pennington will serve as "speed off the bench."
Worth noting
• Nolasco will make his Angels debut in Thursday's series finale against the A's. Tim Lincecum will start at Safeco Field on Friday, pitching close to his hometown, and Tyler Skaggs will follow Saturday.
• First baseman C.J. Cron, who underwent surgery on his right hand July 12, took 20 dry swings Tuesday. Catcher Geovany Soto (left knee) is eligible to come off the DL, but still has some hurdles to clear before starting a Minor League rehab assignment.
• The Angels will wear special edition batting practice jerseys and caps as part of the club's Ducks Night celebration Aug. 16 against the Mariners. The jerseys will feature the co-branded logo the NHL's Ducks used at the Honda Center in February.