By Jeff Fletcher
ANAHEIM 鈥 A week after Robert Stephenson began to throw, he felt well enough to try again.
The Angels relief pitcher said the beginning of his throwing program last Monday didn鈥檛 go as well as hoped, so he took another week off. After trying again seven days later, the right-hander was encouraged.
鈥淚t definitely feels a lot better, especially today,鈥 Stephenson said. 鈥淛ust from from last Monday, it feels a lot better, and I鈥檓 really encouraged by it. So I feel like I can actually fully start to ramp up now. Before I was kind of nervous about even throwing, but it feels good today.鈥
Stephenson was out only 13 months from Tommy John surgery before returning to the mound for two games in late May. A few pitches into his second game, he felt something wrong, which was diagnosed as a stretched nerve in his bicep. Stephenson let it rest for more than a month before getting back on the path to a return.
He said he threw 鈥渟uper light鈥 on Monday.
鈥淪tart building up slowly,鈥 Stephenson said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 going to be a quick process. At least I can start building up.鈥
MONCADA UPDATE
Third baseman Yo谩n Moncada, who has been out with right knee inflammation, was set to play nine innings at third base on Monday night in the Arizona Complex League. If that goes well, his return to the big leagues could be imminent.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a timetable,鈥 interim manager Ray Montgomery said. 鈥淚 would like him to be here at 6:40.鈥
Montgomery added that Moncada does not need to go to Triple-A or any other higher minor league level to see a higher caliber of pitching. He simply needs 鈥渞eps.鈥 Moncada was set to play his third game in Arizona on Monday.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see how he comes out of it every day,鈥 Montgomery said. 鈥淥bviously he鈥檚 kind of dictating to us how he feels. That鈥檚 the most important thing. And as much as we need him here, he knows he鈥檚 got to be careful too.鈥
The Angels have been struggling to put together quality situational at-bats, so the addition of a player like Moncada 鈥 a switch-hitter who works counts and puts the ball in play 鈥 could be a boost to the lineup.
STRICKLAND OUT, MEDEROS IN
Right-hander Hunter Strickland was placed on the injured list because of right shoulder inflammation. Strickland was set to undergo an MRI exam on Tuesday.
鈥淛ust hoping for the best,鈥 Strickland said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l see what they say.鈥
Strickland said he began to feel some discomfort on Sunday during his pregame work, and it continued during a perfect, 15-pitch inning against the Toronto Blue Jays.
鈥淚t was just kind of bite your lip and grind through it,鈥 Strickland said.
Strickland, 36, has a 3.27 ERA in 19 innings since joining the Angels in May.
The Angels called up right-hander Victor Mederos to take Strickland鈥檚 spot in the bullpen. Mederos has a 9.53 ERA in 11鈪 major league innings in his career, with 12 walks. His numbers in the minors had also been unspectacular until a notable improvement in the past couple of months.
In 11 games this season at Triple-A, all starts, Mederos had a 4.09 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 23 walks in 61鈪 innings.
鈥淚 think the biggest difference is just been able to learn who I am as a pitcher and learn what I do well,鈥 Mederos said. 鈥淏eing able to just be in the zone, get guys out early, and just be able to keep the ball on the ground and let the defense work.鈥
Rangers (RHP Nathan Eovaldi, 5-3, 1.75 ERA) at Angels (RHP Jos茅 Soriano, 6-5, 3.72 ERA), Tuesday, 6:38 p.m., FDSN West, 830 AM