Angels place lefty Yusei Kikuchi on injured list with shoulder inflammation

The Los Angeles Angels made a roster move on Sunday, placing left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on the 15-day injured list due to shoulder inflammation. In his place, the team purchased the contract of lefty Tayler Saucedo from Triple-A Salt Lake.

Kikuchi, 34, was forced to exit his start against the Chicago White Sox last Wednesday after experiencing shoulder tightness. An MRI was conducted on his left shoulder on Friday, with further results pending. General manager Perry Minasian provided an update on Kikuchi’s condition, mentioning that they are monitoring his progress closely.

A two-time All-Star, Kikuchi joined the Angels last season and had been working on adjusting his delivery this year. Despite his efforts, he struggled with a 0-3 record and a 5.81 ERA in seven starts. In the previous season, he posted a 7-11 record with a 3.99 ERA over 33 starts.

Having played for multiple teams over his career, including the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, and Houston Astros before landing with the Angels, Kikuchi holds a career record of 48-61 with a 4.50 ERA in 206 appearances.

As for Saucedo, 32, he is set to make his debut with the Angels. With previous stints with the Blue Jays and Mariners, Saucedo has accumulated a 5-2 record with a 4.36 ERA in 148 relief appearances. At Triple-A Salt Lake, he recorded a 0-1 record with a 4.30 ERA in 12 relief appearances.

The Angels will look to Saucedo to bolster their bullpen in Kikuchi’s absence as they continue their season. Stay tuned for more updates on Kikuchi’s recovery and Saucedo’s performance with the team.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb