Angels call up Jose Suarez to start Thursday vs. Giants

The Angels officially recalled pitcher Jose Suarez to start Thursday night’s series finale with the Giants, the season debut for the 22-year-old left-hander.

Suarez was on the injured list for most of Angels summer camp for undisclosed reasons. He was reinstated from the IL on Aug. 10 and optioned to the team’s alternate training site at Long Beach. Ten days later, he’s back in the big leagues.

Joe Maddon said Wednesday that Suarez would likely be able to throw 75 pitches when called upon, adding, “He’s pretty stretched out. He’s ready to go.”

Before Wednesday’s game, before Suarez was revealed, Maddon wouldn’t commit to any more than one start for the Thursday starter. The Angels shuffled their rotation this week, sending struggling right-hander Julio Teheran to the bullpen. Andrew Heaney, who last started Saturday, was given an extra day of rest and will start Friday in Oakland.

Angels starting pitchers are 27th in the majors in ERA (5.48), 20th in FIP (4.89), and 19th in innings per start (4.47).

Suarez last year as a rookie appeared in 19 games, including 15 starts, and struck out 72 in 81 innings, but he also allowed 23 home runs and posted a 7.11 ERA and 6.72 FIP. It was the third-highest ERA in Angels history with a minimum of 80 innings, and the fifth-worst ERA+ (64).

Suarez was on the taxi squad for the current road trip. Others on the taxi squad include pitchers Luke Bard and Kyle Keller, infielder Elliot Soto, and catcher Jose Briceno.

The corresponding move for Suarez was pitcher Jaime Barria getting optioned to Long Beach. Barria was recalled Tuesday and pitched 4⅓ innings of long relief.

Game info

Time: 6:45 p.m. PT

TV: Fox Sports West