MLB Notes: Garrett Richards Likely Needs Tommy John Surgery

ANAHEIM, Calif. - A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that Los Angeles Angels ace Garrett Richards is expected to need surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow, sidelining him into next season.

The source spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team wasn't expected to make an announcement on Richards' condition until later Friday.

Yahoo Sports first reported the apparently serious blow to the Angels, who have four starters sidelined in various stages of recovery from arm injuries.

Richards made his first opening day start for the Angels last month, cementing his rise atop the staff since his breakthrough 2014 season. He is 1-3 with a 2.34 ERA in six starts this season, repeatedly facing other teams' aces and getting meager run support from his light-hitting teammates.

Richards already had been scratched from his scheduled start Friday with arm fatigue. Long reliever Cory Rasmus is scheduled to take his place.

He went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA in 2014 before requiring season-ending knee surgery that August. Richards then went 15-12 last season, and he signed a one-year, $6.425 million deal for the current season to avoid arbitration.

The injury would be another blow to the Angels' suddenly beleaguered rotation, which had been one of the few areas with depth for a franchise with a meager farm system.

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Los Angeles already is without injured starters C.J. Wilson and Andrew Heaney, while Tyler Skaggs still hasn't returned from his own elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2014. Yahoo Sports also reported that Heaney has an injured ligament that could require surgery.

Yankees: CC Sabathia placed on DL
NEW YORK - Just after his best outing this season, CC Sabathia was put on the 15-day disabled list by the New York Yankees on Friday because of a strained left groin.

The 35-year-old left-hander allowed six hits in seven shutout innings at Baltimore on Wednesday and struck out six, stopping the Yankees' six-game losing streak. It was just the second scoreless outing since April 2013 for Sabathia, who is 2-2 with a 3.81 ERA five starts this season.

Last-place New York is 9-17, its worst start since 1991. Before Wednesday's game, designated hitter Alex Rodriguez went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

Sabathia's move to the disabled list was retroactive to Thursday. To replace him, the Yankees selected the contract of 33-year-old left-hander Phil Coke from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he was 2-0 in seven scoreless innings over one start and one relief appearance.

Blue Jays: Call up INF Andy Burns
TORONTO - The Blue Jays have selected infielder Andy Burns from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned right-hander Ryan Tepera to the Bisons.

Burns hit .250 with two home runs and 10 RBIs in 27 games at Buffalo. Primarily a third baseman, he can also play second base, shortstop, and both corner outfield positions, giving Toronto options as they prepare for interleague games at San Francisco next week. Burns, who has yet to play in the majors, is without an error in 103 chances at Triple-A this season.

Tepera had no record and a 9.00 ERA in two appearances with the Blue Jays this season. He went 0-2 with one save and a 3.27 ERA in 32 games as a rookie in 2015.

Puerto Rico series off amid Zika concerns
NEW YORK - Baseball has scrapped a series in Puerto Rico between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Miami Marlins amid concerns over the Zika virus.

Major League Baseball and the players' union made the announcement Friday.

The two games scheduled for San Juan on May 30-31 will instead be played in Miami.

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