De La Rosa back from DL; Maronde optioned

ANAHEIM -- An Angels bullpen that coughed up a 5.63 ERA through nine games is expected to get a lift with the return of right-hander Dane De La Rosa, who was activated before Friday night's game after Angels manager Mike Scioscia saw what he needed in a pregame workout.

Left-handed reliever Nick Maronde was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the 25-man roster.

De La Rosa, sidelined to open the season by a strained right forearm after only two Spring Training appearances, has pitched three scoreless innings in Minor League rehab games -- two for Double-A Arkansas after one for Class A Advanced Inland Empire.

The 6-foot-7 De La Rosa emerged as the iron man of Scioscia's bullpen in 2013. He appeared in 75 games and was 6-1 with two saves in 72 1/3 innings, fashioning an ERA of 2.86.