Angels have rotation vacancy after placing Mederos (shoulder) on IL

Schanuel placed on 10-day IL after suffering left wrist contusion on Saturday

August 24th, 2025

ANAHEIM -- The Angels have an opening in their rotation, as right-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation before Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Cubs at Angel Stadium. Additionally, right-handed long reliever was placed on the 15-day IL with right elbow inflammation and first baseman was placed on the 10-day IL with a left wrist contusion.

Right-hander José Soriano was reinstated from the restricted list and will make his next start on Monday against the Rangers after being away from the club to attend the birth of his first child, a son named Jake, in the Dominican Republic. And right-hander Chase Silseth was called up to take Fulmer’s spot on the roster and will join the bullpen, while outfielder Matthew Lugo was brought up from Triple-A Salt Lake to take Schanuel’s roster spot.

But the Angels will still need a fifth starter to replace Mederos, an opening which is likely to come on either Friday or Saturday in Houston.

Right-hander Caden Dana, ranked as the club’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, is the most likely candidate to be called up to take Mederos’ spot. He was sharp on Friday, striking out 13 over seven strong innings with Triple-A Salt Lake. But interim manager Ray Montgomery said they’ll continue to discuss their options.

“I think we know some of the names, but we'll have to see after the game,” Montgomery said. “We'll kind of sit down and discuss the options. I’m sure some of the guys who have been here will be in consideration.”

Mederos and Fulmer are both set to undergo MRI exams, as Mederos felt fatigue during his fourth and final inning against the Cubs on Saturday. He said he felt stiffness in his shoulder during the inning and it worsened on a sweeper he threw to Reese McGuire before he ultimately gave up a grand slam on a fastball.

“It felt like my arm just kind of got stiff, and I ripped the sweeper, and just kind of felt something in my shoulder,” Mederos said. “I thought it would feel better today, but just didn't, just feels really sore.”

Fulmer, meanwhile, left in the seventh inning after feeling something in his elbow after throwing a changeup. He’s never dealt with an elbow injury in his nine-year career and the Angels won’t know more about his status until he’s evaluated further.

“Just more tests for him,” Montgomery said. “That's the type of stuff that really pulls at your heart when you see that happen to a guy who has done everything we've asked of him.”

Schanuel underwent an MRI on Sunday after he jammed his wrist on a diving play in the second inning on Saturday and eventually left the game in the sixth. He’s been dealing with the injury since being hit by a pitch from Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Aug. 11 and was held out of the lineup on Sunday, with Niko Kavadas getting the start at first base.

He was placed on the IL roughly 30 minutes before first pitch, but he believes it’ll be a short stint before he’s ready to return.

“I thought I could play through it,” Schanuel said. “It recently flared up on me, just overusing it when I should have maybe given it a day or two, but I was just trying to fight it and be out there with teammates. And [it] kind of backfired on me. But I want to be back in 10 days and not waste any time.”