Meyer gets another shot at starting role

SEATTLE — The Angels are giving Alex Meyer another chance to establish himself as the major league starter he was long expected to become.

Nine years ago, Boston drafted Meyer out of a rural Indiana high school and offered him more than $2 million to sign. He went to the University of Kentucky instead, and three years later signed with Washington for a similar bonus.

Accordingly, he officially became a top prospect in the spring of 2012.

Since then, injuries have regularly struck his lanky 6-9 frame, and he’s been traded twice. At 27, he has pitched in 10 major league games and registered a 6.54 earned-run average. Still, when Tyler Skaggs’ oblique strain vacated a starting spot for at least the next two months, Meyer was the Angels’ first choice to fill it. He is scheduled to start Thursday against Seattle, and manager Mike Scioscia said he does not expect the opportunity to be “one and done.”

“I’m excited about it,” Meyer said. “It’s extremely unfortunate what’s been going on with the injury bug up here, with Tyler, Garrett [Richards] and the bullpen on top of that. Obviously, they need some help. I want to be the guy to help them with that. “This is a big deal for me.” Meyer battled errant command throughout spring training. Since the season began, he said, his command has been “fairly good" with triple-A Salt Lake. He said he has focused on landing his curveball in the strike zone, a feat he did not consistently manage during his only appearance for the Angels this season, 32⁄3 innings against Toronto on April 21.

He made only one start since, a four-inning outing for triple-A Salt Lake in which he gave up five runs. He said he succeeded with the curveball in the latter three innings after a “lethargic” first inning.

Across the industry, the consensus is that Meyer is best suited to pitching in relief. The Angels do not share that belief.

“With where his upside is,” Scioscia said, “we definitely think it’s worth giving him an opportunity, to see if the improvements he’s been working on are where they need to be.”

Short hops

Second baseman Danny Espinosa had an extended session with coaches to make changes to his lefthanded swing. The switchhitter started the day with a .160 batting average and a .511 OPS in 103 plate appearances this season, with 37 strikeouts. … Right-hander Andrew Bailey threw off the mound Wednesday for the first time since shoulder inflammation prompted him to be shut down April 12. Cam Bedrosian, meanwhile, has not yet thrown from a long distance.