Angels' JC Ramirez placed on DL with elbow injury, no timetable for return

ANAHEIM >> When the week began, only 20 men had thrown more innings this season than Angels pitcher JC Ramirez. The score included veterans, All-Stars and a few “innings eaters.” Most were among the game’s most established starting pitchers. None was a rookie.

Ramirez, 29, is not a rookie. But considering he’d thrown 126 1/3 innings at the major league level before this year, Ramirez wasn’t expected to be among the American League leaders in innings pitched (147 1/3).

The Angels placed Ramirez on the 10-day disabled list retroactive to Sunday with a right elbow strain. The severity of the injury is enough of an unknown that there is no timetable for his return.

“He’s in a no-throw situation as we assess his strength,” Angels general manager Billy Eppler said.

Considering Ramirez had not thrown more than 90 innings in a season since 2011, when he was a 22-year-old in Double-A, could his workload have contributed to the injury?

“You never know where a guy is and if there’s an endpoint somewhere,” manager Mike Scioscia said. “He had rebounded from every start very well and really had no issues along these lines. We monitored him very closely. He’s been doing his routine, doing his work. His bullpens have been good. So it’s hard to say exactly what the cause is. Right now we’re just going to have to deal with it.”

Scioscia said shutting down Ramirez from throwing is both necessary and a precaution.

Ramirez’s next start was supposed to be Thursday against the Texas Rangers. Troy Scribner started for Triple-A Salt Lake on Sunday, but he threw just 31 pitches. That would appear to make him an option Thursday. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA in four games (two starts) with the Angels this season.

Jesse Chavez could also shift back into the rotation. The veteran right-hander has made four relief appearances this month since his last start July 30. He’s 6-10 with a 5.24 ERA in 26 games (21 starts) this season.

Ramirez is one of many unsung heroes in the Angels’ ascent to the second AL wild-card spot. The journeyman entered spring training as a likely middle reliever. Now his 11 wins are most on the staff, and his 4.15 ERA ranks behind only Parker Bridwell and Alex Meyer among pitchers who have made at least 10 starts this year for the Angels.

Seven Angels starting pitchers have spent time on the disabled list this season: Ramirez, Alex Meyer, Tyler Skaggs, Matt Shoemaker, Andrew Heaney, Garrett Richards and Nick Tropeano. They’ve missed a combined 512 games through Monday.

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Injury updates

Right-handed reliever Andrew Bailey went on the 10-day disabled list for the second time this season with a shoulder injury and left-hander Jose Alvarez was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Bailey pitched three games in April, then missed the next four months with inflammation. He returned to pitch one inning last Tuesday in Washington D.C.  This time, Bailey reported soreness in the past couple days, Scioscia said. His DL stint was backdated to Friday.

Third baseman Yunel Escobar (oblique) worked out Monday and will begin taking ground balls today, Scioscia said. Although he doesn’t have any minor league rehabilitation games scheduled yet, Scioscia said Escobar could still return by next Tuesday — the end of the initial 2-3 week timetable estimated at the time of the injury.

Garrett Richards, who is in Arizona rehabbing a strained right biceps, reported no issues one day after facing hitters in a simulated game. Scioscia said Richards will throw another three-inning simulated game Friday, “hopefully get into the 40-, 45-pitch range and find out where he is.”

Also

Pitcher Noe Ramirez, claimed off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Friday, was added to the Salt Lake roster Monday. … Noted sky-watcher Mike Trout said he didn’t watch the solar eclipse Monday, but his siblings in New Jersey sent him several photos. … Today’s game against the Rangers will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.