TEMPE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Tyler Skaggs understands why the Angels are treading carefully with him this spring, though he said he isn't concerned about the shoulder weakness that prompted the club to scratch him from his scheduled start on Friday.
"Not at all," Skaggs said on Thursday. "I appreciate the Angels being precautionary with me. I'll take a few extra days, probably pitch Sunday or Monday. Should be alright to go."
The Angels had hoped Skaggs would be able to pitch two innings in his first Cactus League start against the White Sox on Saturday, but he was unable to finish one. The 25-year-old southpaw walked four of the six batters he faced and departed after recording just two outs. Skaggs' fastball also showed a drop in velocity by the end of the abbreviated outing.
A postgame strength test administered by the Angels' medical staff revealed "a little bit of a deficit" in Skaggs' shoulder, though the issue has since "corrected itself," manager Mike Scioscia said on Wednesday.
Skaggs said he has not stopped throwing since the scare, and he is scheduled for a bullpen session on Saturday before sliding back into the rotation. He does not fault the Angels for being cautious, particularly given his injury history. Skaggs missed nearly two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery and shoulder issues before returning to the Halos' rotation in July. He enters his first full season after ligament-replacement surgery eager to show that he's finally healthy.
"I'd been feeling great all the way up until that outing," Skaggs said. "It is what it is. I appreciate them being understanding with me. At the same time, I need to take the next step and just let them know that I'm healthy. So I'm looking forward to the rest of Spring Training to prove it."