Garrett Richards Placed on 10-Day DL by Angels with Arm Injury

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Garrett Richards has been placed on the 10-day disabled list due to an injury to his biceps.

Per MLB.com's Maria Guardado, Richards' DL stint is due to a right biceps strain and is retroactive to April 6. 

This is another setback for Richards after he tore a ligament in his elbow last season and made just six starts with a 2.34 ERA and 1.33 WHIP. 

When healthy, he is one of the Angels' best pitchers, but even his breakout effort in 2014 was cut short by a significant knee injury. He finished with a 2.61 ERA and 1.04 WHIP in 26 starts that year and followed it up with a 3.65 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 2015.

Richards lasted just 4.2 innings in his first start of the season on Thursday due to cramping in his biceps. He was effective before exiting with four strikeouts and three hits allowed against the Oakland A's.

The Angels missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons and will need other pitchers such as youngster Tyler Skaggs and veterans Ricky Nolasco and Matt Shoemaker to carry the load while Richards is out.

However, the loss of an ace would be a difficult blow for any pitching staff, and the Angels aren't exactly loaded with household names on the mound.

It is hard to envision Los Angeles realistically contending in the American League West this season if Richards doesn't return to health quickly following this injury.