ANAHEIM — A week after Robert Stephenson began to throw, he felt well enough to try again.
The Angels relief pitcher said the beginning of his throwing program last Monday didn’t go as well as hoped, so he took another week off. After trying again seven days later, the right-hander was encouraged.
“It definitely feels a lot better, especially today,” Stephenson said. “Just from from last Monday, it feels a lot better, and I’m really encouraged by it. So I feel like I can actually fully start to ramp up now. Before I was kind of nervous about even throwing, but it feels good today.”
Stephenson was out only 13 months from Tommy John surgery before returning to the mound for two games in late May. A few pitches into his second game, he felt something wrong, which was diagnosed as a stretched nerve in his bicep. Stephenson let it rest for more than a month before getting back on the path to a return.
He said he threw “super light” on Monday.
“Start building up slowly,” Stephenson said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a quick process. At least I can start building up.”
Third baseman Yoán Moncada, who has been out with right knee inflammation, was set to play nine innings at third base on Monday night in the Arizona Complex League. If that goes well, his return to the big leagues could be imminent.
“I don’t have a timetable,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “I would like him to be here at 6:40.”
Montgomery added that Moncada does not need to go to Triple-A or any other higher minor league level to see a higher caliber of pitching. He simply needs “reps.” Moncada was set to play his third game in Arizona on Monday.
“We’ll see how he comes out of it every day,” Montgomery said. “Obviously he’s kind of dictating to us how he feels. That’s the most important thing. And as much as we need him here, he knows he’s got to be careful too.”
The Angels have been struggling to put together quality situational at-bats, so the addition of a player like Moncada – a switch-hitter who works counts and puts the ball in play – could be a boost to the lineup.
Right-hander Hunter Strickland was placed on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation. Strickland was set to undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday.
“Just hoping for the best,” Strickland said. “We’ll see what they say.”
Strickland said he began to feel some discomfort on Sunday during his pregame work, and it continued during a perfect, 15-pitch inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“It was just kind of bite your lip and grind through it,” Strickland said.
Strickland, 36, has a 3.27 ERA in 19 innings since joining the Angels in May.
The Angels called up right-hander Victor Mederos to take Strickland’s spot in the bullpen. Mederos has a 9.53 ERA in 11⅓ major league innings in his career, with 12 walks. His numbers in the minors had also been unspectacular until a notable improvement in the past couple of months.
In 11 games this season at Triple-A, all starts, Mederos had a 4.09 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 23 walks in 61⅔ innings.
“I think the biggest difference is just been able to learn who I am as a pitcher and learn what I do well,” Mederos said. “Being able to just be in the zone, get guys out early, and just be able to keep the ball on the ground and let the defense work.”
Rangers (RHP Nathan Eovaldi, 5-3, 1.75 ERA) at Angels (RHP José Soriano, 6-5, 3.72 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM
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