Ernesto

Frieri

The Halos acquired Frieri from the Padres on Thursday night and are hoping he can stabilize their shaky (and injury-marred) bullpen. “He’s got a really live arm, the velocity and deception,” Scioscia told reporters. “The ball is sneaky.” With Scott Downs (knee) and LaTroy Hawkins (pinkie) both battling injuries and Jordan Walden struggling with effectiveness, the 26-year-old Frieri is probably worth grabbing in most mixed fantasy leagues.

Downs suffered the injury while attempting to field a comebacker during Sunday’s game. The Angels don’t plan to place him on the disabled list at this time and he’s expected to rejoin the team Monday night in Minnesota. The recently-acquired Ernesto Frieri could be in line for a save attempt if he needs to miss a couple days, though.

Downs was diagnosed with a left knee contusion after undergoing an MRI and will be monitored on a day-to-day basis. Walden was recently yanked from the closer role, so we’d give the slight edge to the recently-acquired Frieri. He’s worth adding in most fantasy leagues in the short-term.

LaTroy Hawkins -- and not Jordan Walden -- was brought in to convert the two-out save with a 4-3 lead and a runner on. Hopefully Downs’ injury isn’t serious, but we’ll have to wait for an update on his status. The veteran southpaw replaced Walden as LA’s closer late last month and hasn’t yet allowed a run this season. Hawkins, who owns a 1.08 ERA, would be the favorite for saves if Downs misses time. Newly-acquired Ernesto Frieri -- who tossed a scoreless eighth inning Sunday -- would also be a candidate. The Angels appear to not want to put Walden back into the ninth-inning role just yet.

Downs hasn’t appeared in a game since suffering a left knee contusion Sunday after getting struck by a comebacker. He has been named the Angels’ temporary closer and needs to be owned in all fantasy leagues.

Frieri, 26, has an impressive 2.33 ERA over 105 career relief appearances, including a 2.31 ERA and 18/4 K/BB ratio over 11 2/3 innings this season. We suspect he’ll miss PETCO Park, but he should be an upgrade for an Angels’ bullpen which entered play Thursday with a 5.08 ERA.

Frieri went without a strikeout for the first time in 17 appearances with the Angels. It was the second time it had happened this year; the other time also came against the Dodgers, back when he was still with the Padres in April. Frieri has yet to give up a run in 17 1/3 innings for the Halos. He’s splitting save chances with Scott Downs, but he looks like the preferred choice in the ninth now.

Frieri entered in the eighth inning and struck out three of the five batters he faced before slapping hands with his teammates after a pretty smooth ninth. He now boasts a 22/7 K/BB ratio in 10 innings since joining the Angels and has a real opportunity to run away with Anaheim’s ninth-inning role. The Halos are suddenly in second place in the American League West standings.

The Angels have been winning, but they haven’t been generating save opportunities for either of their co-closers. Scott Downs had just two saves since Frieri’s last on July 5. Frieri now has 12 saves for the season.

Scott Downs set him up with a flawless eighth. The Angels can’t seem to go wrong with either pitcher right now. Manager Mike Scioscia might be frustrating fantasy owners with how he’s using Frieri and Downs, but he’s certainly pushing the right buttons.