Silseth says he's feeling good despite recent velocity drop

The Angels had expected Chase Silseth's velocity to go up when they switched him to the bullpen, but lately, it's gone the other direction.

Silseth's average fastball in his first 14 major league games, including last season, was 95.3 mph. In his first major league outing this season, on April 26, his fastball averaged 96.3 mph. In his last two relief outings, the velocity has dropped to 93.9 mph. It was 93.4 mph on Tuesday night.

Manager Phil Nevin said after Tuesday's game that it was a concern the Angels would investigate, but on Wednesday morning he said they've concluded that he's fine physically.

“He's just had two hiccups in a row,” Nevin said. “That's all.”

Silseth agreed.

“I'm feeling pretty good,” he said. “It's just the ups

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and downs of a season, doing something new with my body. Who knows? I've got to figure it out. Keep going.”

Silseth, 23, made the majors last season, less than a year after being drafted. He initially showed promise but with a tendency to run out of gas after 50 or 60 pitches. Acknowledging that issue, he worked hard over the winter to strengthen his legs.

This season Silseth started at Triple-A, but then he went to the major league bullpen to help the Angels fill a need as a highleverage reliever.

Silseth allowed three earned runs in 10-1/3 innings in his first five relief outings, including a game in which he retired all six hitters he faced to finish a May 22 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

In his past two outings, he's given up three runs in three innings.

Silseth acknowledges there has been something missing in terms of velocity, but he's also had command issues. He walked four on Saturday.

“I wish I had all the answers,” Silseth said. “I've just got to keep pushing through. Find something that works. It's a phase of having to go through something new. Just keep pushing. I can't just give up. It's sometimes frustrating when you see (the velocity drop) but I can't let that get too much into my head. Still gotta throw with my best stuff. That's not gonna cause me not to throw strikes or anything like that . ... I've just got to figure it out.”

Rendon update

Nevin was as definitive as he's been when it comes to a timeline for injured third baseman Anthony Rendon.

The Angels finish this trip with four games in Houston, followed by an off day at home.

Nevin said the Angels “feel good about soon after that” off day to get Rendon back in the lineup. If Rendon plays on Tuesday, he would have missed 23 days with the groin injury. He said he had been playing with the injury for about two weeks before going on the injured list.

Also

Infielder Brandon Drury was out of the lineup a day after he was hit in the wrist by a pitch. Drury had precautionary X-rays that showed no break. He was available to play on Wednesday, but Nevin said he felt it was better to give him a day off so he could play all four games in Houston . ... Outfielder Hunter Renfroe also got the day off on Wednesday. Renfroe had played 22 games in a row, including two others when he started on the bench and entered the game late. Nevin said he was hoping to give Renfroe a full day off in preparation for four straight against Houston.