SEATTLE -- A day after leaving his outing with discomfort in his forearm/elbow area, left-hander Reid Detmers was placed on the 15-day injured list with left elbow inflammation. Right-hander Chase Silseth was called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to replace him in the bullpen for Thursday’s opener against the Mariners.
Detmers underwent an MRI on Thursday but is still awaiting the results. The Angels, however, remain optimistic it isn’t a major injury, although it’s likely to end his year either way with the season coming to a close on Sept. 28. The earliest he could return is Sept. 26.
“He’s getting some tests done and getting things looked at,” interim manager Ray Montgomery said. “Just making sure it’s nothing structural hopefully. When I know, you’ll know.”
Detmers wasn’t with the club in Seattle but was in good spirits after Wednesday’s game in Anaheim. He said he didn’t feel any pain on any specific pitch but that the ball just wasn’t coming out right. His velocity was down 2-3 mph from his season average, which is why head athletic trainer Mike Frostad and Montgomery met him at the mound after he gave up a two-out double in the eighth inning.
Detmers, 26, has fared well in his first full season in relief, posting a 3.96 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 25 walks in 63 2/3 innings. He said on Thursday that he didn’t believe it was an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament that would require a serious operation like Tommy John surgery.
“Honestly, I didn't feel much,” Detmers said. “Just felt like it wasn't coming out. Just kind of just felt that not a whole lot of power behind it. I wouldn't say I'm too concerned. Obviously, there's what's going on, but nothing hurts. I'm not in pain or anything.”