DETROIT — Jack Kochanowicz had a little extra time to keep chasing the feeling he’s been missing for most of the season.
The Angels right-hander was moved back one spot in the rotation, an adjustment afforded by Thursday’s off day. He’ll start on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi will instead start on Saturday, keeping him on a normal four days rest.
It will be six days rest for Kochanowicz after last Sunday’s start, when he gave up four runs in the first inning and then one in the next five.
“I think I got a good consistent feeling going back to the back half of that (last start),” Kochanowicz said on Friday. “I know what I need to do mentally, to just go in and start it the right way.”
Kochanowicz, 24, has a 5.85 ERA in 21 starts this season, after posting a 3.99 ERA in 11 starts as a rookie. His inconsistency this season caused the Angels to briefly send him to Triple-A last month.
“We try to be machines out there,” Kochanowicz said. “That’s the toughest part, to try to go out and there and feel exactly the same as I did last time. That’s the toughest part of it. But I feel good. I had a good ‘pen this week.”
His best pitch is his sinker, but it’s been elusive this season.
“To be honest, I feel like the entire season I’ve been chasing it a little bit to try to get it where I want it to be,” Kochanowicz said. “That’s just pitching. You’ve got to go out there with what you have that day. And I’m learning to do that.”
Kochanowicz said his sinker has dropped the way he wants, despite the metrics being similar.
“I think it’s been a more gradual drop instead of a late, late drop,” Kochanowicz said.
Interim manager Ray Montgomery said these types of growing pains are normal for a big league starter.
“I think it’s a constant thing here when you’re a young arm making your way as a starter in the big leagues,” Montgomery said. “There will be days where you feel like you’re invincible and throwing your good stuff where you want to. I think we saw later in that start his last time out about changing speeds and spinning the ball a little bit and creating deception even to his best pitch. He’s going to have to keep going through it. He’s going to have to learn to keep turning lineups over multiple times. It’s part of the process.”
MONCADA RETURNS
Yoán Moncada rejoined the Angels on Friday after passing his test to earn United States citizenship this week. Niko Kavadas was optioned back to Triple-A. He was up for two days while Moncada was away.
Moncada said through an interpreter that his quest to become a citizen began “years ago” and he’s “grateful” that he finally achieved the goal.
Moncada, 30, left Cuba legally in 2014, obtaining a visa and passport from the Cuban government in order to pursue a professional baseball career. He now lives in Florida, but still returns to Cuba every year to visit his family.
On the field, Moncada is still limited to hitting left-handed because of lingering pain in his right knee. That’s why he wasn’t starting on Friday night, with the Angels facing left-hander Tarik Skubal.
“I have been hitting a little on the right side, but it still bothers me,” Moncada said. “I don’t want to force anything on the right side because I want to feel good with my knee on the left side.”
NOTES
Right-hander Robert Stephenson faced hitters in live batting practice on Friday at Class-A Inland Empire. The Angels will next decide when to have him begin a minor league rehab assignment. Stephenson has been out with bicep inflammation for just over two months. He pitched just twice after concluding a 13-month rehab from Tommy John surgery. …
Right-hander Chase Silseth, who has worked as a one-inning reliever at Triple-A, picked up his first save with two strikeouts in a perfect inning on Thursday night. Silseth has not allowed a run in five innings since his role was changed. He missed most of the season because of an injury and what the Angels called fatigue. “He’s one of the guys we’re going to have to count on at some point,” Montgomery said. “I’m glad he’s back healthy. I’m glad he’s having success.” …
Montgomery also said he’s noticed that shortstop Denzer Guzman and outfielder Nelson Rada have started off well at Triple-A. Guzman, 21, is 9 for 20 with two homers in his first five games. Rada, 19, is 6 for 17 with a homer in his first four games. “To be that young and off to a good start at Triple-A says a lot about them,” Montgomery said.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 5-7, 3.22) at Tigers (RHP Charlie Morton, 7-9, 5.20), Saturday, 3:10 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network West, 830 AM
