Luis Rengifo of the Los Angeles Angels hits a single during the first inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 1, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers throws to a Seattle Mariners batter during the second inning of a baseball gam Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Los Angeles Angels’ Willie Calhoun watches his single next to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Seattle Mariners’ J.P. Crawford reacts after hitting a grand slam off Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Reid Detmers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Starter Reid Detmers of the Los Angeles Angels delivers a pitch during the first inning of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on June 1, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
Seattle Mariners’ Ryan Bliss collides with Los Angeles Angels second baseman Luis Rengifo (2) after tagging up and taking second base on a flyout by J.P. Crawford, as umpire Jeremie Rehak watches during the sixth inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Seattle Mariners’ baseman Ryan Bliss celebrates in the dugout after scoring on a single by Julio Rodríguez during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez, left, reacts at first base after getting a hit off Los Angeles Angels pitcher Roansy Contreras to score Ryan Bliss during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez celebrates in the dugout after scoring on two-run double by Cal Raleigh during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Seattle Mariners’ Julio Rodríguez, center, scores off a double by Cal Raleigh as Los Angeles Angels catcher Matt Thaiss, right, looks on during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryce Miller cheers from the dugout during the sixth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, June 1, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Jason Redmond)
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SEATTLE — Reid Detmers stood at his locker in an empty clubhouse, still trying to compose himself from the news that crushed him, but also seemed inevitable.
After Detmers gave up five runs in a 9-0 loss to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday, the Angels optioned the left-hander with a 6.14 ERA to Triple-A Salt Lake.
“It (expletive) sucks,” Detmers said. “There’s no other way to put it. It sucks. I just gotta do better.”
Detmers, a 24-year-old former first-round draft pick, has at times in his brief big league career been one of the Angels’ best starters, including when he threw a no-hitter in 2022. At other times, he’s struggled so much that he’s been one of the worst starters in the rotation.
The fact that he’s been able to bounce back from other slumps – although not to the degree of this one – could provide some reason for hope for Detmers and the Angels.
“I’ve had some battles,” said Detmers, who paused as he fought back tears. “I always came back from them. No doubt in my mind.”
The Angels had little choice but to do something different with Detmers after Saturday’s game, which was the latest in an eight-start stretch that has seen him post an 8.93 ERA.
“He hasn’t been able to consistently put hitters away,” Manager Ron Washington said. “Like today, he was ahead of them all day long. And next thing you know the count is 3-2. Just couldn’t command his slider, which is his pitch. Couldn’t command his fastball. The whole idea is we just want to get him in an environment where it’s not results that you’re going to be worrying about, and find your stuff. This is not something that’s going to be permanent, or we feel is detrimental to him. We just feel like he needs to be in an environment where he can refind who he is.”
Washington said the Angels haven’t decided what they will do with Detmers’ rotation spot. They will call up another pitcher to take his roster spot on Sunday. They actually could delay the decision on another starter for more than a week, because they have off days on Thursday and a week from Monday.
Detmers was shaky from the outset in this one, starting with a walk to the first hitter of the game. Detmers got through the first three innings with only one run on the board.
That was one set up by a leadoff walk to No. 9 hitter Ryan Bliss in the third inning.
An inning later, Detmers was again facing the bottom of the Seattle order, needing just one out to escape. Detmers walked No. 8 hitter Luke Raley and Bliss.
Pitching coach Barry Enright came to the mound for a visit with Detmers before he faced leadoff hitter J.P. Crawford for the third time in the game.
Detmers got ahead of Crawford with a first-pitch strike, and the count was 1-and-2 when he missed with a slider. His next pitch was a curve that hung right at the letters, and Crawford lifted it just over the right field fence, for a grand slam. That was the end of Detmers’ day on the mound.
“I need to get the slider back,” Detmers said. “That’s the first thing. And obviously getting the mindset right, getting the confidence back. But the main thing is to get my out pitch. I haven’t really had it all year.”
A tweak to Detmers slider was what unlocked his success after a brief stint in Triple-A in 2022.
In the meantime, the most obvious rotation candidate in Triple-A is left-hander Kenny Rosenberg. He has a 3.86 ERA at Salt Lake, and last season he had a 3.82 ERA in 33 major league innings.
Injured right-hander Chase Silseth, who began the season in the rotation, just threw three innings in his first rehab outing on Friday. He probably needs at least two more minor league outings before he could be an option.
Their top pitching prospect is right-hander Caden Dana, who has a 2.76 ERA at Double-A. Under General Manager Perry Minasian, the Angels have shown no hesitation in bringing players straight from Double-A to the majors if they believe they are ready.
The game didn’t get any better for the Angels after Detmers was pulled.
The Mariners scored four more runs against relievers Carson Fulmer and Roansy Contreras, and they resorted to having utilityman Cole Tucker pitch the eighth. He worked a scoreless inning.
Offensively, the Angels managed only six hits.
