The Los Angeles Angels recalled right-hander Caden Dana from Triple-A Salt Lake on Saturday and designated right-hander Shaun Anderson for assignment.
The move is not surprising, as the Angels seek to add available arms to a depleted bullpen. Flamethrower Ben Joyce underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, and veteran Robert Stephenson is still completing his rehab assignment.
Anderson, 30, had a 6.30 ERA and 10 strikeouts across 10 innings of work. He earned a win against the Los Angeles Dodgers last Sunday; in 2 2/3 innings, he gave up one earned run, one hit, and no walks, while striking out three.
Dana is ranked as the organization’s No. 2 prospect by MLB Pipeline. He was called up earlier this season for a relief appearance, pitching three innings and allowing two runs, four hits, and one walk to go along with two strikeouts.
The 21-year-old standout had a 2.52 ERA in 135 2/3 innings at Double-A Rocket City last season and has options. This season, he is 3-4 with a 5.21 ERA in eight starts at Salt Lake.
“He’ll be our long guy out of the bullpen if we need him in that situation,” Angels manager Ron Washington told reporters of Dana. “That’s the way we will use him, because he has length. We needed length, so that’s what he’s here to do. If something happens in the second inning, he could take the game all the way to the end, and that’s what we needed. And he was available. It was his time to pitch, so we brought him up.”
Despite the bullpen uncertainty, the Angels (25-25) have been on fire, winning eight straight games entering Saturday night’s game against the Miami Marlins.
