Suarez to be recalled as Cahill heads to IL

Club's No. 5 prospect won MLB debut last Sunday vs. M's

June 9th, 2019

ANAHEIM -- Rookie left-hander  will be called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to make his second career start in the Angels' series finale against the Mariners on Sunday, as veteran right-hander Trevor Cahill was placed on the 10-day injured list with right elbow soreness on Saturday.

Angels manager Brad Ausmus said that Cahill felt some soreness after his last outing on Monday, when he gave up five runs on six hits over 4 1/3 innings against the Cubs. The Angels decided to place Cahill on the IL, retroactive to Tuesday., as a precaution, as he’s likely to miss just one start with the injury. Cahill played catch on Saturday, so he hasn’t been shut down.

“We don’t think it’s anything serious,” Ausmus said. “It’s probably just [a] one-start-missed situation.”

Cahill, signed to a one-year deal worth $9 million in the offseason, has struggled this year, going 2-6 with a 7.18 ERA with 46 strikeouts, 20 walks and 16 homers allowed in 57 2/3 innings. Ausmus, however, believes that Cahill can turn it around. Cahill is eligible to return as early as Friday.

“Cahill definitely still has his stuff,” Ausmus said. “His velocity has been as good as ever this year, especially recently. It’s more about execution than raw stuff.”

Suarez, meanwhile, will be facing Seattle for a second straight outing after giving up three runs on five hits over 5 2/3 innings in a win in his Major League debut at T-Mobile Park on Sunday. Suarez, the Angels' No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, was scratched from his scheduled start on Friday with Triple-A Salt Lake as he was warming up. He was told shortly before the game started that he would be headed to the Majors for a second time.

“He did a nice job,” Ausmus said of Suarez’s first start. “It was a good first outing. He got the win. Got some run support. A good fastball-changeup combination. We talked about using the breaking balls a bit more. But it was a very good first outing.”

Walsh optioned to Triple-A

First baseman/lefty reliever Jared Walsh was optioned to Triple-A before Saturday’s game to make room for lefty Dillon Peters, who was called up from Salt Lake to serve as the primary pitcher against the Mariners.

Walsh, ranked as the club’s No. 20 prospect, hit .250/.294/.313 with two doubles and two RBIs in 11 games at first base. He also pitched twice in lopsided games, allowing one run in two innings, with a strikeout. With Walsh at Triple-A, catcher Jonathan Lucroy is the backup first baseman to Albert Pujols, while Tommy La Stella could also see action there. Ausmus said that the addition of utilityman Wilfredo Tovar allows them flexibility.

"We’ve got Tovar here now, so he helps with the other positions,” Ausmus said. “Lucroy is a guy who can play first base. We’ve got four outfielders. Fletcher, of course, can play both. We have it covered to some degree at this point.”