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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Will make 2026 debut Sunday
Rotowire
The Angels announced Friday that Rodriguez will start Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
It will be Rodriguez's first major-league action since July of 2024 due to multiple arm injuries. He missed the first month-and-a-half of the 2026 campaign with right shoulder inflammation, which he suffered at the end of spring training. Rodriguez made two rehab starts, allowing three runs on 12 hits and two walks with 18 strikeouts across 9.2 innings. If he can return to previous form, Rodriguez has strikeout upside, with 259 career regular-season strikeouts across 238.2 innings.
Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Candidate to start Sunday
Rotowire
Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said Wednesday that Rodriguez (shoulder) is a candidate to start Sunday's game versus the Dodgers, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Rodriguez pitched well in a rehab start for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, striking out 11 over 4.2 innings while yielding two runs. He got his pitch count up to 94 in the outing, so the righty is sufficiently stretched out. Rodriguez has been out all season with right shoulder inflammation and has not made an appearance at the major-league level since 2024 due to multiple arm injuries. He was acquired from the Orioles in November in exchange for Taylor Ward.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Sharp in first rehab start
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) tossed 4.2 innings in a rehab start with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Sunday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out 11 batters.
Though Rodriguez was pulled before the end of the fifth frame, he took on a hefty workload of 94 pitches. The righty's pitch count was inflated in part because opposing batters had a hard time putting the ball in play. Rodriguez did hit a batter and uncork a wild pitch in addition to his two walks, but he was mostly sharp, throwing 63 strikes. Given his strong outing and his ability to approach 100 pitches, Rodriguez may not need many more rehab appearances before he's ready to join the Angels' rotation.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Moving rehab to Single-A
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment Sunday at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Rodriguez will jump up a level after an appearance Tuesday in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The right-hander faced little resistance from a lineup of teenaged hitters, striking out seven while allowing one earned run on five hits and no walks over five innings. Rodriguez threw 73 pitches in that outing, and he's slated to build up to six innings or 90 pitches Sunday, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. While Rodriguez looks ready to handle a typical starter's workload, the Angels could keep him in the minors past Sunday to allow him to knock off more rust. The 26-year-old didn't pitch at all in 2025 due to multiple elbow injuries that he ultimately addressed with a debridement procedure in August, and though he received a clean bill of health heading into spring training, he was forced to the 15-day injured list after experiencing shoulder inflammation late in camp.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Set for five innings in ACL
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw up to five innings during a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez continues to bump up his workload, as his previous throwing sessions consisted of three and then four simulated innings. The right-hander has yet to make his Angels debut because he landed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation in late March, but the fact that he's now beginning a proper rehab assignment could put him on track for a return from the shelf within the next couple of weeks.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Advances to four simulated innings
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) tossed 60 pitches over four sim innings Thursday, per MLB.com.
The throwing session was another step forward for Rodriguez, who threw three three innings in his previous sim game. The right-hander is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation that landed him on the IL in late March. Rodriguez is presumably going to need a minor-league rehab stint before he's activated, though it's unclear when that assignment will begin.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Making progress, next step TBD
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) threw to live hitters in Arizona on Friday, and the Angels are evaluating how he came out of that session before determining the next step in his throwing program, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.
Rodriguez reportedly threw the equivalent of three innings in the live session Friday. The right-handed hurler felt "good" while throwing, according to manager Kurt Suzuki, but the team still wants to see how he recovers before determining his next step. Rodriguez could be headed for a minor-league rehab stint soon, and there's a chance he'll be able to join the Angels sometime in May.
Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Throws live batting practice
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
It's the first time Rodriguez has faced hitters since he landed on the 15-day injured list prior to Opening Day due to right shoulder inflammation. As long as Rodriguez bounces back well from Monday's session, he could be cleared for a rehab assignment before long. The right-hander would need multiple rehab starts before he's ready to join the Angels' rotation.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Scheduled for bullpen Saturday
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Saturday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Rodriguez opened the season on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. He has steadily increased his throwing distance off flat ground, but Saturday will mark his first throwing session on the mound. Rodriguez will likely need to throw multiple bullpen sessions before being cleared to embark on a rehab assignment.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Could throw from mound within week
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) said Tuesday that he hopes to begin throwing from a mound within the next week, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez has been dealing with right shoulder inflammation and "dead arm" since mid-March. He's been throwing up to 150 feet and stated Tuesday that he thinks he'll be ready to toss a bullpen session within the next week. Even if he's able to do so, the right-handed hurler is probably still multiple weeks away from a return, but he does seem to be making progress. "The arm is definitely getting strong quick," Rodriguez said Tuesday. "When I feel like I'm ready to throw the ball as hard as I want to throw it, that'll let me know. But with how I've been progressing the last week to two weeks, it's really given me a lot of confidence."
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Throwing, but not yet from mound
Rotowire
Rodriguez (shoulder) has been playing catch and doing strengthening exercises but has yet to throw a bullpen session, per MLB.com.
Rodriguez began the season on the IL (retroactive to March 22) due to right shoulder inflammation. The Angels have been adamant that he's not dealing with a major injury, but the fact Rodriguez hasn't yet progressed to throwing bullpens may mean he's leaning toward not being ready to return when immediately eligible. Jack Kochanowicz and Ryan Johnson are getting opportunities to be part of the rotation early in the campaign.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Officially placed on IL
Rotowire
The Angels placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list Monday due to right shoulder inflammation.
Manager Kurt Suzuki had previously been referring to Rodriguez's injury as being a bout with "dead arm," but the Angels are officially listing him with a shoulder issue. In any case, Suzuki has remained adamant that Rodriguez isn't contending with anything too serious, so the right-hander could be ready to return from the IL around when he's first eligible for activation. Ryan Johnson will fill the open spot in Los Angeles' rotation until Rodriguez is healthy.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Set to be placed on IL
Rotowire
Rodriguez (arm) is expected to begin the regular season on the injured list, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
Rodriguez is dealing with a dead arm, according to manager Kurt Suzuki, and the right-hander will require a stint on the injured list to start the 2026 campaign. Rodriguez described the injury as "not serious" Friday, per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, but the issue is significant enough for him to miss time. In his absence, Jack Kochanowicz and Ryan Johnson will round out the Angels' starting rotation.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Plays down injury concern
Rotowire
Rodriguez (arm) played light catch Friday and said he doesn't consider his injury serious, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Rodriguez is taking a cautious approach in his recovery from a dead arm, but that's due to his injury history rather than the severity of the current issue, as the right-hander called the injury "not serious." Still, it's unclear if Rodriguez will have to open the regular season on the injured list.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Managing arm soreness
Rotowire
Manager Kurt Suzuki said Thursday that Rodriguez is dealing with a dead arm, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez played catch Thursday despite his injury, so it doesn't seem like the Angels are concerned enough to warrant completely shutting the right-hander down just yet. That being said, his status for Opening Day is unclear, and he could be placed on the IL to begin the season if he doesn't begin to feel better within the next several days.
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Angels' Grayson Rodriguez: Fires 4.2 scoreless spring frames
Rotowire
Rodriguez allowed two hits and walked four batters while striking out five over 4.2 scoreless innings in a Cactus League start against Cleveland on Friday.
Rodriguez was a bit wild in issuing four free passes, but he kept the Guardians out of the score column thanks in part to a pair of double plays. Promisingly, he worked up to 85 pitches, and though his fastball velocity was a bit below its established norm at 94.3 mph, it's worth noting that the right-hander is still working his way back into full form after not pitching in any games beyond spring training last season. Rodriguez hasn't dropped jaws this spring, but he's looked healthy and has posted a tolerable 4.97 ERA with 12 punchouts (albeit alongside 10 walks) over 12.2 frames, so he looks to be headed toward a spot in the Angels' Opening Day rotation.
