ANAHEIM -- Right-hander Grayson Rodriguez exited with low back tightness after hitting Cedric Mullins with a 3-2 changeup to load the bases with one out in the third inning of Sunday’s game against the Rays.
Rodriguez, making his sixth start of the season after opening the year on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, was looked at on the mound by manager Kurt Suzuki, pitching coach Mike Maddux and trainer Eric Munson before leaving the game. His last pitch was an 83.4 mph changeup that he yanked and hit Mullins in the foot.
Rodriguez’s velocity was mostly normal, however, as his previous pitch was a 97.4 mph fastball and his fastball averaged 96.2 mph, which is only a tick down from his 96.4 mph season average.
Right-hander Chase Silseth replaced Rodriguez and struck out Junior Caminero on three pitches before getting ahead of Chandler Simpson with an 0-2 count. But Silseth left a sweeper at the bottom of the zone that Simpson hit for a go-ahead two-run single. Silseth got Richie Palacios to ground out to short to escape further trouble.
Both runs were charged to Rodriguez, who gave up two runs on three hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. He's had his ups and downs this season, posting a 7.36 ERA with 24 strikeouts and 15 walks in 25 2/3 innings.
Rodriguez, 26, has had his fair share of injuries over the years, as he missed all of 2025 and had bone spurs removed from his right elbow last August. Rodriguez, acquired in an offseason trade that sent Taylor Ward to the Orioles, previously hadn’t pitched in the Majors since July 31, 2024. He missed time that year with a right lat strain that also bothered him early in the ‘25 season.
If Rodriguez misses time due to injury, right-hander Caden Dana would be a top candidate to replace him, as he started with Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday and would be lined up to take his next start. The Angels also recently lost right-hander Jack Kochanowicz to season-ending Tommy John surgery and No. 16 prospect Sam Aldegheri fared well in a spot start on Friday and will get another start on Wednesday in Arizona.