ANAHEIM — The Angels and their fans are still learning about relief pitcher Ryan Watson, who was just claimed on waivers from the Boston Red Sox last week.
One of the things he’d like people to know is the context behind his stats.
“If you look at the season, the numbers don’t really tell the whole story,” Watson said. “Got off to a rough start in April and kind of had to dial in on some things and get some things going and really stick to my process a little bit more.”
Watson, 28, has a 4.40 ERA in 57⅓ innings with the Red Sox and Angels this season.
Watson was left exposed by the San Francisco Giants in the Rule 5 draft last December. The Athletics picked him and immediately traded him to the Red Sox.
In his first 15 games with the Red Sox, mostly pitching in low-leverage spots, he had a 6.46 ERA, with nine walks in 23⅔ innings.
Since mid-May, he has a 2.94 ERA in his last 22 games, covering 33⅔ innings.
“I think I was trying to do maybe a little too much in April, trying to be too fine, pick corners and stuff like that instead of just attacking the zone with my best stuff and really trying to go after guys,” Watson said. “I feel like switching the mentality of trying to make the perfect pitch every pitch, just trust my stuff and fly through the zone, has really helped me out a lot.”
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki didn’t know much about Watson when the Angels claimed him on waivers. So far, he hasn’t allowed a run in either of his two outings. He got out of a two-on, one-out jam to help preserve Wednesday’s victory.
“He’s got great stuff,” Suzuki said. “He’s very interesting in that he’s got the stuff and he’s got some pretty good command. I think it’s just getting him out there and getting him comfortable. We haven’t seen him a lot. The more we see him, the more we can see what his strengths are and what he likes to do and things like that. But from the initial times he’s been out there, he’s been awesome.”
Because Watson was a Rule 5 pick, the Angels need to keep him on the major league roster or else place him on waivers. If Watson makes it until the end of the season, the Angels could then option him next year.
BACHMAN UPDATE
Right-handed reliever Sam Bachman, who is on the injured list with nerve inflammation in his elbow, said he’s been playing catch and throwing in the low 80s. He said he’s expecting to get on the mound within the next week.
“Just got some rest and let it recover, and it’s bounced back,” Bachman said on Friday.
Bachman has battled injuries throughout most of his pro career, but he had been healthy since last spring. This year he’s thrown 45⅔ innings. He was one of the Angels’ most reliable relievers until a rough stretch just before he went on the injured list. Bachman has allowed 21 earned runs this season, and 10 of them were in two games, on June 14 and July 7.
NOTES
The Angels have split up their bullpen meetings under interim pitching coach Tim Leveque, with the righties and lefties having separate meetings. “We’re trying to simplify things,” Suzuki said. “Sometimes it almost seems like a little bit much when you’re a right-hander listening to what left-handers do.” …
Suzuki said the Angels aren’t currently planning to limit rookie right-hander Walbert Ureña’s innings. Ureña logged 141 innings in the minors last season. So far this year he’s at 107⅔ major-league innings and 8⅓ in the minors. He likely has seven or eight starts left. “That’s a tricky one,” Suzuki said. “He’s such a strong guy that you think he’d be able to handle the rigors. But we all know it’s a different animal when you’re up here.” Suzuki said they’ll “monitor” him, but he pointed out that his velocity has not given them any reason to believe he’s tiring.
UP NEXT
Royals (RHP Randy Dobnak, 2-1, 2.00 ERA) at Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 3-8, 4.00 ERA), Friday, 6:38 p.m., ABTV, 830 AM