The Los Angeles Angels were the first MLB team to clinch a playoff berth this past Monday and then they won the AL West division on Wednesday. Their postseason rotation remains a bit in question right now.
The Angels have two definite starters for the postseason: Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. Weaver is 17-8 with a 3.50 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 32 starts this season and Wilson is 13-9 with a 4.42 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 29 starts. Wilson's numbers are not very good, but he has extensive postseason experience (nine starts with the Texas Rangers include three starts in the World Series) so it's likely manager Mike Scioscia keeps him in there. He's also 4-1 in the past month.
The questions remain with the final two rotation spots. According to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register, Matt Shoemaker was expected to be the No. 2 starter in the postseason, but he suffered a mild left oblique strain on Monday night and he's been scratched from his next start on Saturday. However, he's likely to be out longer. Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times noted some moderate oblique strains have sidelined pitchers from anywhere between four and six weeks, but it all depends on the severity of the strain and how quickly a player's body is able to recover.
Hector Santiago will certainly be in the rotation if Shoemaker isn't ready. Santiago is 5-8 with a 3.55 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP in 22 starts in his first season with the Angels. He's pitched well recently, amassing a 2.86 ERA over his last eight starts. Santiago also has seven no-decision starts in which he's pitched five innings or more and surrendered one run or fewer.
The last spot is a big toss up. The choices (begrudgingly) seem to be between Wade LeBlanc and Cory Rasmus. LeBlanc, who will be starting in the place of Shoemaker on Saturday, had one start earlier in the year in which he gave up six runs in 3 1/3 innings. He's been in the bullpen ever since. Rasmus has made four "spot starts" for the Angels, throwing a total of 12 innings and giving up three earned runs and six hits. Perhaps they've been slowly prepping the 26-year-old in case they need him to become a permanent or often-called-upon starter. They could just use him to start the game and go three or four innings (his current role) before their deep bullpen comes in to finish it off.
Whatever the case, the status of the Angels rotation is unknown at this point. They would be in a much better position if Garrett Richards and Tyler Skaggs didn't suffer season-ending injuries.
