Los Angeles Angels: A Bleak Preview for the Starting Rotation

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Mar 11, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Angles pitcher Garrett Richards (43) on the mound during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Allan Henry-USA TODAY Sports /

Garrett Richards

In 2014, Garrett Richards was incredible. After several middling seasons with the club, Richards packaged his mid-90’s fastball with an effective slider, a decent curveball and a strong change up to produce 13 wins and a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts. He came back in 2015 to become the Angels’ workhorse, going 15-12 in 207 1/3 innings.

Then came the disaster that was 2016. Lasting only six starts, Richards was diagnosed with a UCL tear – an injury that usually requires Tommy John surgery. Richards eventually decided not to have the surgery, instead going for stem cell therapy.

The same approach worked for Yankees starter Masahiro Tanaka as well as Zack Greinke. That said, Richards’ tear is considered high-grade, and in the words of one medical expert, stem-cell therapy for pitchers with more than a 50 percent tear is “not likely to give good long-term results.”

Thus far in spring, the results are not encouraging. In only 8 1/3 innings over three starts, he carries a 1.44 WHIP – though he did hit 97 mph in his first start, perhaps providing a glimmer of hope for Los Angeles Angels fans.

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