Grayson Rodriguez
Breakdown
Performance
NewsPowered by
Powered by
May 15, 2026
Will make 2026 debut Sunday
The Angels announced Friday that Rodriguez will start Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Analysis
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.
May 13, 2026
Candidate to start Sunday
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.
Analysis
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.
May 11, 2026
Sharp in first rehab start
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.
Analysis
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.
May 10, 2026
Moving rehab to Single-A
Rodriguez (shoulder) will continue his rehab assignment Sunday at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Analysis
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.