ANAHEIM — The six-man rotation that was causing an issue for the Angels’ bullpen was resolved by George Klassen’s stiff back.
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Klassen was placed on the injured list on Sunday with low back inflammation, which leaves the Angels will five starters again. Walbert Ureña, who had been in line to start on Tuesday, will now start in Klassen’s place on Monday.
Klassen said he didn’t feel anything during his start last Monday, but when he woke up the next day, he was “more sore than normal. Some movements felt restricted, but we’re making progress right now.”
Klassen said he has continued throwing, which suggests that this isn’t a serious injury.
“It’s just a precaution,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “You want to make sure we can get it before it turns into something. He’s not concerned. We’re not concerned. Just stay ahead of it.”
Klassen, 24, has a 3.67 ERA in six starts. After two rough starts in April, Klassen returned to post a 2.01 ERA in his last four.
“A lot of positive to take from every day,” Klassen said. “Just keep building off things and stacking them.”
That leaves the Angels with Ureña, Reid Detmers, Grayson Rodriguez, Ryan Johnson and Yusei Kikuchi in the rotation.
On Sunday, the Angels called up two relievers: left-handers Blake Weiman and Mitch Farris. They also optioned right-hander Trevor Martin.
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The bullpen was tapped because having six starters left them with only seven relievers. One of them, Ben Joyce, can’t currently pitch on back-to-back days. On Saturday night, they lost in the 10th inning when Martin was out for a third inning.
The Angels are going to be able to add another pitcher on Tuesday, when rosters expand for September. Left-hander Samy Natera Jr., who was scheduled for a rehab outing on Sunday at Rancho Cucamonga, is likely to be activated that day.
NOTES
Shortstop Zach Neto got the day off on Sunday, even though he’s been the most productive hitter in a slumping lineup. “He’s been grinding, playing hard,” Suzuki said. “I told him, ‘You get on base so much I’ve gotta give you a day.’” …
Neto’s 12-pitch game-tying homer in the eighth inning on Saturday night was a rare event. The last big leaguer to hit a game-tying or go-ahead homer in the seventh or later, after at least 12 pitches, was the Texas Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran, on June 27, 2023. The last Angels player to do it was Garret Anderson, on Sept. 15, 1997. …
The Angels designated right-hander Shaun Anderson for assignment. Anderson has been up and down with the Angels repeatedly over the past two seasons. …
Catcher Sebastian Rivero was activated and optioned to Triple-A. Rivero had been out with a broken hamate.
UP NEXT
Phillies (RHP Elmer Rodriguez, 0-2, 4.70) at Angels (RHP Walbert Ureña, 8-9, 2.94), Monday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM
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