Angels’ Joyce goes to 60-day IL; more tests due
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ANAHEIM, Calif. — What was originally thought to be a minor shoulder injury was serious enough for the
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“It’s just not getting better,” Joyce said before Friday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles. “It’s frustrating for me and everyone else involved. I just want to pitch and be part of the team.
“I don’t know exactly what the concern level is. We’re evaluating it as we go. But at this point, it’s been a month (on the IL), so even if we start a throwing program, it’s going to be another 30 days. So it makes sense right now to go on the 60-day IL.”
Joyce opened the season as Kenley Jansen’s primary setup man and went 1-0 with a 6.23 ERA in five games. He went 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 31 appearances last season, striking out 33 and walking 14 in 34 2/3 innings.
The loss of Joyce has left manager Ron Washington with only two reliable relievers to hold late narrow leads — Jansen and right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn. Angels relievers entered Friday with a 7.15 bullpen ERA, the second-worst in baseball.
“Tremendously,” Washington said, when asked how much Joyce’s absence has impacted the bullpen. “When he went down, it affected us, and we’re still trying to find our footing in the bullpen. He’s an impact-type pitcher. He was the kind of guy we could use to finish an inning, give us another inning, and we miss that.”
Washington said it is unclear who will be responsible for holding leads in the sixth and seventh innings.
