Report: Angels ace Garrett Richards needs Tommy John surgery

Angels pitcher Garrett Richards reportedly has a to ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and is expected to need Tommy John surgery, according to a report from Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

If the Angels’ 27-year-old ace undergoes surgery, he would miss the rest of the season and not retu until the middle of 2017.

On Thursday, the Angels scratched Richards from his scheduled start Friday, citing dehydration and fatigue. That came one day after Richards had missed a plaed bullpen workout.

In his last start Sunday, Richards was pulled after four iings because of dehydration and cramping. He gave up four runs — only one eaed after he committed throwing error — on six hits and a walk, throwing 79 pitches.

In six starts, Richards was 1-3 with a 2.34 ERA in six starts, with 34 strikeouts and 15 walks in 34.2 iings.

Passan said Richards is expected to seek a second opinion, but the Angels view the tear as too significant for rehabilitation.

Passan also reported Angels lefty Andrew Heaney, already on the disabled list with what’s been called a strained flexor muscle, also has a damaged UCL but is rehabbing with hopes of avoiding the same surgery as Richards.

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