TEMPE, Ariz. — The Angels’ six-man rotation may be more of a 5.5-man rotation, as it turns out.
On the day pitchers and catchers reported for spring training physicals, manager Phil Nevin said Tuesday that the Angels’ current plan is “kind of a swing deal” for the No. 6 spot in the rotation, at least at the start of the season.
It means the Angels’ top five starters will normally pitch on five days’ rest, meaning they would need a sixth starter only if there are no days off on the schedule during a particular swing through the rotation.
Nevin had said at the Winter Meetings that the Angels would have Ohtani pitch on five days’ rest as often as possible, but now he’s expanded that to include starters Tyler Anderson, Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers and José Suarez.
“We like what we have in the starting rotation, where those guys emerged from last year and what they’re potentially getting into,” Nevin said. “We like where we’re at. They’re really good.”
Angels starters ranked sixth in the majors in ERA in 2022, and they’ve now added Anderson, an All-Star with the Dodgers last season. Using the swing strategy for the sixth spot would increase the appearances for each of the other five starters.
Last season, the Angels typically used six starters each time through the rotation, even if there was also an off day. That meant Angels starters pitched on six or more days’ rest 108 times, which was twice as many as the next closest team.
Turning the sixth spot into a hybrid role could give an advantage to right-hander Jaime Barria in the competition for that spot, as he’s been successful at times in the big leagues as both a starter and reliever.
Barria had a 2.61 ERA in 2022, pitching out of the bullpen in 34 of his 35 games. He had a 3.41 ERA as a starter in 2018, although more recently he’s struggled as a starter.
The other leading candidates for that role are left-hander Tucker Davidson, who is out of options, and right-handers…
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