TEMPE, Ariz. -- Hector Santiago will start the Angels' Cactus League opener against the Giants in Scottsdale on Wednesday, with Garrett Richards starting at home against the A's on Thursday and Jered Weaver pitching against the Cubs in Mesa on Friday.
The order leaves both Richards and Weaver lined up to start Opening Day on April 4, at home against the Cubs.
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Fellow starter Matt Shoemaker will pitch after Santiago on Wednesday, with Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano probably starting on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Tyler Skaggs, easing his way back from Tommy John surgery, probably won't pitch in a Cactus League game this week. Neither will C.J. Wilson, temporarily shut down with shoulder tendinitis and back in Southern California as his wife gives birth to the couple's first child.
Starting pitchers are expected to throw no more than two to three innings their first time. Also slated to pitch on Wednesday are Cam Bedrosian, A.J. Achter, Rob Rasmussen, Greg Mahle, Lucas Luetge, Kyle McGowin and Victor Alcantara. Game time is 12:05 p.m. PT, live on MLB.TV.
Worth noting
• Albert Pujols (right foot) apparently remains on track to be ready by Opening Day. It remains to be seen whether he'll be available to play first base at the start, but Pujols has been unrestricted in batting practice and during defensive work. He just needs to be cleared to run full speed.
• Asked about being traded from the Nationals to the Angels over the offseason, Yunel Escobar said in Spanish that it was "a big surprise. I thought I had a good year in Washington. I hit .314. It was a good year. I never thought things would fall like that, but I landed on a good team."
• Outfielder Andrew Brown, a non-roster invite for Spring Training, has decided to retire. Brown played in 144 games with the Cardinals, Rockies and Mets from 2011-14, batting .220/.281/.390, and spent last year in South Korea. He wanted to spend more time with his family.