The Los Angeles Angels are in a familiar spot. Not only have they lost seven straight games, but superstar outfielder Mike Trout (knee) is on the 10-day IL.
The Angels (12-19) are 1-9 in their last 10 games and are last place in the AL West. Their -55 run differential is second-worst in baseball, ahead of only the 6-27 Colorado Rockies at -83.
Pitching is a big reason for their issues, as they rank 26th with a collective 5.22 ERA. However, Los Angeles shuffled its staff before its bout with the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night, via the team's social media.
"Angels transactions:
•Selected contract of RHP Touki Toussaint
•Recalled RHP Michael Darrell-Hicks from Triple-A Salt Lake
•Placed LHP Garrett McDaniels (left biceps tendinitis) on 15-day IL (retro to 5/2)
•Following last night’s game, optioned LHP Jake Eder to Salt Lake," Angels PR announced.
Toussaint sports a career 15-16 record with a 5.39 ERA in 88 appearances, while Darrell-Hicks is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA in five games as a rookie this season. Fellow rookie McDaniels has a 5.91 ERA in 10 outings, while Eder has a 6.23 ERA in 4.1 career big-league innings.
The Angels will host the Tigers (21-12) for two more games before continuing its homestand against the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. After that, they'll hit the road to face the San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Athletics before returning home to face the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees.
Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (0-3, 6.65 ERA) will start for Los Angeles against Detroit on Saturday.
More must-reads: