Alex Meyer is starting for the Angels on Friday

Alex Meyer was one of a handful of fifth starter hopefuls heading into spring training, but it wasn’t in the cards for the recently-acquired pitcher, as he started off his 2017 season in Salt Lake City.

But a Garrett Richards injury, followed by some other lackluster outings in which the bullpen got heavily taxed, then throw in some J.C. Ramirez starts and even more bullpen work, and you’ve got one tired Halos pitching staff.

All of this is really just good news for Alex Meyer, who has started three games for the Bees, during which he has struck out 18 batters over his 15 innings pitched, while also giving up 19 hits for a total of eight earned runs in that stretch. The Angels have seen enough to like out of him, though, and he’s about to get his time back in the big league sun:

Meyer will be taking on the Blue Jays in the first game of the weekend series, with the Angels back home after a little midwestern road trip. Hopefully, he’s got some of that lights out stuff he flashed for the Angels and their fans at the end of the 2016 season. He showed signs of turning things around then, and if he can be his fireball-throwing, strikeout-dealing self, then he may find himself on the 25-man roster for a bit longer than anticipated.

This is Billy Eppler’s guy...the one he seemed to REALLY want in that Hector Santiago/Ricky Nolasco deal, so they’re about to get another look at exactly what they’ve gotten in return from that deal. Nolasco has been rocky, but seemed to turn a corner last night. Now, it’s Alex Meyer’s turn to show us he’s got the MLB-ready stuff.

Then again, Meyer’s had plenty of turns in his big league career. One of these days, he’ll pan out and become a legit starter or bullpen piece. Or, I don’t know, maybe he’ll just be so-so and will be shipped back to the minors, making this a true spot start call-up and nothing more.

This is baseball, after all. I’m pulling for Meyer, hope he goes out there and smokes the Blue Jays.