Wade LeBlanc Called Up to Angels, Shoemaker to AAA

Due mostly to Saturday night's thirteen inning game that saw Fernando Salas, Joe Smith and Ernesto Frieri each throw two innings of scoreless relief, the Angels have been forced to add pitching to their big league roster in the form of Salt Lake City Swingman Wade LeBlanc.

To make room for him the Angels have sent last night's starting pitcher Matt Shoemaker back to AAA. The Bearded Sole will have to spend fifteen days down there before returning to the bigs as the draconian rules of roster moves dictate (although the Shoe Man could return if there was an injury, any injury, up in Anaheim).

He was waived by the Marlins last year and ended up pitching a few innings for the Astros. He has pitched for the Rays and Padres. LeBlanc is a lefty but he's not really that good. he has had one season out of seven in the bigs where he recorded more than 1.0 WAR and he has had a few seasons of negative Wins Above Replacement.

He had a 3.69 ERA in Salt Lake in 53 innings pitched. He had 43 Ks, allowed 55 hits and walked 14. Meh with a capital Meh.

LeBlanc will likely see action as long relief between now and the next start that Shoemaker should have made. At that point, watch Hector Santiago get called up for a spot start and Shoemaker back when he can get called up.

Funniest thing in all this:

Mike Scioscia referred to new pitcher Wade LeBlanc as Matt LeBlanc several times in media session this morning. Maybe they're Friends.

— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) May 25, 2014