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The Angels set their 2020 opening day roster on Thursday, opting for 16 pitchers, including two-way player Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani will get the start on the mound on Sunday in Oakland, in the Angels’ third game of the season, and will likely start once a week. The Angels will use a six-pitcher starting rotation, beginning with Andrew Heaney, Dylan Bundy, Griffin Canning, Matt Andriese, and Patrick Sandoval in addition to Ohtani.
Heaney gets the ball on Friday night when the Angels opening their season against the Athletics in Oakland.
Julio Teheran, signed to a one-year, $9 million contract in December, figures to be a big part of the rotation at some point this season, but will start the season on the injured list. Teheran tested positive for COVID-19 and was late reporting to training camp. He threw Tuesday at Dodger Stadium, and manager Joe Maddon said his next time out will be a two-inning stint, so Teheran still needs some time to stretch back into a starter’s role.
Anthony Rendon is on the active roster. He’s dealing with a sore oblique and won’t play on Opening Day Friday, but the Angels for now are avoiding an injured list stint, hopeful Rendon will be back before what would have been a week of missed games. David Fletcher is expected to fill in at third base while Rendon is out.
Utility man Luis Rengifo has been battling a hamstring injury, but isn’t on the roster. He’ll start on the injured list, as will left-handed pitchers Dillon Peters and Jose Suarez.
The Angels added pitchers Jacob Barnes and Hoby Milner, who were on minor league deals, to the active roster, rounding out the bullpen.
Active roster limits are increased to 30 players for the first two weeks of the season, then are reduced to 28 players for the next two weeks. After that, the usual 26-player active roster limit will apply for the remainder of the season.
Justin Anderson, who had Tommy John surgery this week, is on the 45-day injured list.
Angels opening day roster
| Pos | Player | 2020 age | Service time | Options (used) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | 2020 age | Service time | Options (used) |
| C | Jason Castro | 33 | 9.104 | 3 (none) |
| 1B/DH | Albert Pujols | 40 | 19.000 | n/a |
| 2B/3B | Tommy La Stella | 31 | 5.057 | 1 (2016-17) |
| 3B | Anthony Rendon | 30 | 6.130 | n/a |
| SS | Andrelton Simmons | 30 | 7.125 | n/a |
| LF | Justin Upton | 32 | 12.060 | n/a |
| CF | Mike Trout | 28 | 8.070 | n/a |
| OF | Brian Goodwin | 29 | 3.019 | 0 (2015-17) |
| 2B/3B | David Fletcher | 26 | 1.111 | 3 (none) |
| 3B/LF | Taylor Ward | 26 | 0.093 | 2 (2019) |
| C | Max Stassi | 29 | 3.049 | 0 (2014-16) |
| 3B/1B | Matt Thaiss | 25 | 0.089 | 3 (none) |
| 1B | Jared Walsh | 26 | 0.065 | 2 (2019) |
| OF | Michael Hermosillo | 25 | 0.157 | 1 (2018-19) |
| SP | Andrew Heaney | 29 | 4.150 | 1 (2014-15) |
| SP | Dylan Bundy | 27 | 4.026 | 0 (2012-15) |
| DH/SP | Shohei Ohtani | 25 | 2.000 | 3 (none) |
| SP | Griffin Canning | 24 | 0.153 | 3 (none) |
| SP | Matt Andriese | 30 | 4.071 | 1 (2015-16) |
| SP | Patrick Sandoval | 23 | 0.056 | 3 (none) |
| CL | Hansel Robles | 29 | 4.119 | 0 (2013, 2017-18) |
| RHP | Ty Buttrey | 27 | 1.046 | 2 (2018) |
| RHP | Keynan Middleton | 26 | 2.150 | 2 (2017) |
| RHP | Mike Mayers | 28 | 2.020 | 0 (2016-18) |
| RHP | Cam Bedrosian | 28 | 4.153 | 0 (2014-16) |
| LHP | Hoby Milner | 29 | 1.015 | 2 (2018) |
| RHP | Noe Ramirez | 30 | 2.139 | 0 (2015-17) |
| RHP | Felix Peña | 30 | 2.079 | 1 (2017-18) |
| LHP | Ryan Buchter | 33 | 4.010 | 2 (2014) |
| RHP | Jacob Barnes | 30 | 3.030 | 0 (2016, 18-19) |
| Injured list | Julio Teheran | 29 | 7.062 | 1 (2011-12) |
| Injured list | Jose Suarez | 22 | 0.091 | 2 (2019) |
| Injured list | Dillon Peters | 27 | 0.144 | 1 (2018-19) |
| Injured list | Luis Rengifo | 23 | 0.147 | 2 (2019) |
| 45-day IL | Justin Anderson | 27 | 1.161 | 3 (none) |