ANAHEIM — The plan for returning left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to the Angels’ rotation is coming into focus.
Kikuchi said he’s planning to pitch three innings for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga on Thursday. He’ll then make at least two more rehab starts, increasing the innings each time.
“Personally, I’d like to come back after three minor-league rehab assignments,” Kikuchi said through his interpreter. “But I have to talk to the team about that.”
Kikuchi has been out since early May because of shoulder inflammation. While he’s been out, the Angels have settled into a rotation with three reliable pitchers: José Soriano, Reid Detmers and Walbert Ureña. The pitchers in the other two spots – currently Ryan Johnson and Grayson Rodriguez – have been inconsistent.
There is also a possibility that the Angels will trade Detmers and/or Soriano by next Monday’s deadline, which could create an opening for Kikuchi.
As of now, Kikuchi is optimistic about his return because he’s been feeling good, both in his shoulder and with the stuff.
“I’ve been recovering well and my velo is coming back,” Kikuchi said.
He’s faced hitters twice, last week at Angel Stadium and on Saturday in Arizona.
“It was blazing hot,” Kikuchi said of the most recent outing. “That’s all I remember. One hundred fifteen Fahrenheit.”
ADELL’S SPLITS
Jo Adell’s homer on Sunday in San Francisco was not a surprise, because he was facing a left-handed pitcher.
Coming into Monday’s game, Adell has hit .316 with a .951 OPS against lefties, compared with .214 and .592 against righties.
Adell has always hit a little better against lefties, which is normal, but it’s never been as exaggerated as this year.
Manager Kurt Suzuki has no theories for what’s happened.
“That’s a good question,” Suzuki said. “I’ve seen the splits. Trust me, I’ve seen it. It might be a mental thing now at this point. I’m not 100% sure why, but I know he’s working on it with the hitting guys. Whether it’s spin, whether it’s two-seam action. Whatever the pitches that are struggling for him to kind of get a grasp on that right-handed side, I know he’s working on it.”
NOTES
Catcher Travis d’Arnaud (plantar fasciitis) played all nine innings in the field for Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday, which could be the final hurdle for him to return to the active roster. Suzuki said d’Arnaud will be evaluated in Anaheim on Tuesday. Suzuki said they aren’t sure how the playing time at catcher would be distributed once d’Arnaud returns. Starting catcher Logan O’Hoppe is hitting .213 with a .575 OPS. …
Infielder Adam Frazier (elbow) will continue to play at Triple-A in his rehab assignment, Suzuki said. “He was out for a while, and he’s not quite comfortable yet,” Suzuki said. …
Right-handed reliever Ben Joyce (shoulder surgery) pitched for the second time in his rehab assignment at Triple-A on Sunday, working a scoreless inning with one strikeout. Joyce’s fastball averaged 101.1 mph and hit 103.1 mph. …
The draft deadline passed without the Angels signing 15th-round pick Cameron Jackson, a high school shortstop from Georgia. Jackson has a commitment to the University of Oklahoma. The Angels signed their other 19 picks. They also announced signings of four undrafted free agents: left-hander Jayden Harper (Cal State Fullerton), right-hander Thomas Shurtleff (Penn), right-hander Brady Stuart (Endicott College) and infielder Casey Wensley (Bryant University).
UP NEXT
Astros (RHP Peter Lambert, 8-5, 3.03 ERA) at Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 8-7, 4.05 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM
Angels interim GM John Mozeliak starts to dig in on trade possibilities