The Angels season will have thirty three games remaining when they face the Miami Marlins at home n Monday. That would have been the first of Garrett Richards' six remaining starts.
For those bemoaning "Season Over", you can save it or shove it, because the loss of Richards means that the Angels really only have to address those six games. While it would have been nice to have a pitcher with an ERA below three the baseball gods have dealt us a different path to the playoffs.
Barring a trade, time machine or free-agent signing, here are the two pitchers who will most likely fill in for some of those six Richards' starts:
Wade LeBlanc - This Lefty started one game against the A's for us on May 30, went 6.1 Innings, allowed four earned runs (this was back when the A's had an offense). Then he was sent back to AAA but he had to pass through waivers, which he didn't. He was claimed by the Yankees and appeared in one game for them - also against Oakland a mere five days later. LeBlanc screwed the pooch, allowing 2 ER in 1 IP and was released. Then the Angels signed him and he was back at Salt Lake... and he's been there ever since. His ERA of 4.00 is probably a good sign considering the high altitude that fuels balls to fly there. He last stared on August 17 so he is ready to pitch right now if need be.
Michael Roth - Also a Lefty, Roth has had a good season in AA and is on the forty man roster, unlike LeBlanc. He is having a good season in the best pitchers' park on earth, Dickey Stephens Park in Little Rock. So is his 2.82 ERA in a pitching paradise against AA hitters better than LeBlanc's 4.00 against AAA hitters in a batting nirvana? We will know what Jerry DiPoto thinks by Monday.
Others in the mix:
Jarrett Grube (underwhelming, innings-eating workhorse in AAA), Drew Rucinski (128 K in 137 IP is the best ratio of any Halo starter that could be imagined to take over up here) and perhaps Buddy Boshers (a reliever but started as recently as August 2 and struck out six in 5 IP, allowing three earned runs).
So don't give up hope.