Angels Undecided on Kikuchi's Return After Rough Rehab Outings

Yusei Kikuchi's path back to the Angels rotation remains unclear after difficult rehab outings, with the club yet to settle on a plan for his return, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.

The left-hander is currently on a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga. The most recent outing was a rough one — Kikuchi allowed 7 runs in the first inning alone, a result that does not exactly accelerate the conversation about when he rejoins a big-league staff.

What we don't know yet

The Angels have not announced a diagnosis, a specific timetable, or a next step. Whether Kikuchi makes another rehab appearance, skips one, or has his assignment restructured in some other way is unresolved as of Bollinger's report.

The rotation picture

The uncertainty around Kikuchi arrives against a backdrop of Reid Detmers pitching as well as anyone in the organization — Bollinger reported Detmers through 8 scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts and no walks on 92 pitches in his most recent outing. That kind of performance does not create urgency to rush a struggling arm back, but it does underscore how much the Angels would benefit from a healthy, effective Kikuchi if and when he gets there.

For now, the Angels are watching and waiting, and so is everyone else.