SEATTLE — Next up, Kenny Rosenberg.
Rosenberg will be the 14th pitcher to start a game for the Angels when he takes the mound Thursday against the Oakland A’s.
The Angels have been piecing together two of their rotation spots ever since they demoted Reid Detmers and lost Patrick Sandoval to Tommy John surgery.
They’ve gone through pitchers like Zach Plesac, Davis Daniel, Jack Kochanowicz and Roansy Contreras and none has seized the opportunity well enough to last more than three starts.
Carson Fulmer, who is currently holding the other spot, is scheduled for his third turn Friday.
“Any of us can have a good outing, being a real good starting pitcher in the big leagues or a real good relief pitcher,” Rosenberg said. “But you have to do it over and over and over for anyone to care. One good start is a good start, but that’s it. You have to show that every fifth day, when you take the mound, you’re reliable and you can pitch deep in games.”
Rosenberg, a 29-year-old left-hander, had a 3.82 ERA in 33 big-league innings last year, mostly in September. That included three starts and two other games in which he was the bulk pitcher behind an opener. He lasted at least five innings each time.
This season, his only two big-league games have been to mop up after Kochanowicz had rough starts. He worked six innings in one game and four in the other.
“I like his competitive juices,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “He competes. He’s one of those left-handers, like (Tyler Anderson), who has to hit his spots, change speeds, move the ball around. He’s a competitor, and that’s what I love about him.”
If Rosenberg can pitch well, there is no one blocking him from continuing to stay in the rotation.
“It’s tough the last couple years being up and down a lot,” Rosenberg said. “There were times, especially in my first season, when I was pretty nervous because I knew my performance dictated whether I would stay or not. I don’t necessarily feel like…
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