With an overworked bullpen of late and the All-Star break approaching, the Los Angeles Angels made a roster move after their 9-7 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night. Garrett Richards, the starting pitchers for the Halos on Thursday, was optioned to Triple A Salt Lake after the game, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.
The move seems more procedural than anything since Richards wont start again until after the All-Star break, and the Angels need bullpen help, which will come in the form of a corresponding move on Friday.
Richards pitched 4 1/3 innings on Thursday, Ervin Santana pitched just 1 1/3 innings on Wednesday, and Dan Haren lasted just 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday. That's 15 bullpen innings pitched in the last three days for the Angels, including 2 2/3 innings from LaTroy Hawkins, who has pitched for three straight days.
Richards has been serviceable for the Angels with a 4.21 ERA in eight games, including seven starts. But he has allowed 19 hits and 17 runs (12 earned runs) in 8 2/3 innings over his last two starts.
In an odd twist, the Orioles also demoted Thursday's starting pitcher, Jake Arrieta (3-9, 6.13 ERA) after the game, per Britt Ghiroli of MLB.com.
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