KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Johnny Cueto will be back on a big league mound on Wednesday night when the Los Angeles Angels conclude their three-game series with the Kansas City Royals, whom the 38-year-old pitcher helped to carry to a World Series title nearly a decade ago. Angels manager Ron Washington said before Tuesday night's game that Cueto was being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake to make the start.
He has not pitched in the majors since last September, when he finished a disappointing season for Miami. “I don't know if he can come up here right now and start being a leader. He's worried about being Cueto,” Washington said, “but if he happens to stay around, I think he definitely can influence our young kids.
” The Angels needed some help in the rotation after placing Jose Soriano on the injured list with arm fatigue and losing Patrick Sandoval to surgery on his elbow earlier in the year. Carson Fulmer, rookie Jack Kochanowicz and Griffin Canning have filled out the rotation along with Tyler Anderson, who got the start in Kansas City on Tuesday night. “I just want him to come in here and fit in," Washington said.
"I’m quite certain some of those young kids will flock to him, and he’ll give them the information that they ask for. But as far as him coming up here today and influencing these kids, I don’t think you can do that right now. Because I can tell you, they don’t know who Johnny Cueto is.
We know but I don’t think they do." Cueto struggled earl.