Angels place Ben Joyce, Anthony Rendon on IL

MINNEAPOLIS — The Angels were dealt a couple of blows before Tuesday’s 10-5 loss to the Twins at Target Field, as rookie closer Ben Joyce and veteran third baseman Anthony Rendon were both placed on the injured list.

Joyce landed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation, while Rendon was placed on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain, marking his third stint on the IL this year. The Angels aren’t ready to say that either player will miss the rest of the season, but time is obviously running out with the last game of the year scheduled for Sept. 29. Third baseman Eric Wagaman had his contract selected from Triple-A Salt Lake, while right-hander Guillermo Zuñiga was recalled from Triple-A.

Joyce said he first felt something in his shoulder during the club’s weekend series in Texas and didn’t see action in the four-game set. He said he’s optimistic it’s a minor injury but still has yet to undergo an MRI exam.

“I’m not concerned, just kind of inflammation right now and I’ve been dealing with it for a few days,” Joyce said. “It’s improving. I just don’t feel like I’m at the point where I’m ready to come in and pitch yet.”

Joyce, 23, has had a breakout season, posting a 2.08 ERA with 33 strikeouts and one homer allowed in 34 2/3 innings. He’s been especially impressive since adding a sinker to his arsenal in mid-June, recording a 0.83 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings since then.

Joyce has done all of that while displaying incredible velocity, including uncorking a 105.5 mph fastball for a strikeout against Tommy Edman on Sept. 3. It was the hardest pitch thrown this season and the third-fastest in the pitching tracking era, dating back to 2008. Only Aroldis Chapman has thrown harder pitches, reaching 105.8 mph in 2010 and 105.7 mph in ’16.

“I feel like I made a lot of strides this year,” Joyce said. “It was an up-and-down year in terms of how it started, and then I feel like I put together a pretty good stretch, and I’m pretty proud of how that went.”

But Joyce’s big velocity raises the question of whether he can stay healthy going forward. He had a bout with ulnar neuritis last year, but he otherwise hasn’t had any other injury issues. Joyce believes his injury is unrelated to how hard he throws.

“That’s how I’ve thrown my whole career,” Joyce said. “I’m just continuing to build myself up. I trust that my body can handle it. It’s just a part of the process right now.”

With Joyce out, manager Ron Washington said it’ll be a closer by committee for the Angels. He also said he believes that Joyce’s injury isn’t tied to his velocity, although the club has had conversations with him about continuing to use his other pitches and not just trying to blow his four-seamer past opposing hitters.

“It’s hard to say that he throws too hard to stay healthy,” Washington said. “That’s just wear and tear. And I don’t know of any pitcher that hasn’t had a little inflammation here and there. That’s just the way he throws. But we are trying to control him on when to use his power. Because he has three other pitches, a changeup, a slider and a sinker.”

Rendon, meanwhile, landed on the IL for the 11th time since joining the Angels on a seven-year contract in 2020. He felt some discomfort in his back after playing on the turf in Texas and was held out of the lineup on Sunday and again on Monday. The Angels were hopeful he’d be back in there on Tuesday, but the discomfort radiated to his oblique and he ultimately was placed on the IL yet again.

“It started in his back area and it moved into his oblique,” Washington said. “We’ll just wait and see what happens. I’m not going sit here and say it’s the end of the year, but he has to go on the IL.”

With Rendon out, it gives an opportunity to Wagaman, a local product from Aliso Viejo, Calif., who attended Orange Coast College. The 27-year-old grew up an Angels fan, idolizing David Eckstein and Chone Figgins, and had a strong season between Double-A Rocket City and Triple-A Salt Lake, hitting .274 with 17 homers and 60 RBIs in 121 games.

“I went to a ton of games growing up and had a lot of favorite players around the team,” Wagaman said. “So it’s pretty cool. It’s special, for sure. A lot of friends and family have already reached out.”