Angels starter C.J. Wilson’s season may be over as he tries to correct an elbow problem that has bothered him all year.
Wilson, 8-8 with a 3.89 ERA in 132 innings, told reporters Saturday he has bone spurs in his left elbow that are causing swelling and severely restricting the range of motion in his pitching arm. Despite having the elbow drained four times this season, the problem has persisted.
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C.J. Wilson: left elbow impingement - "secondary to arthritis," according to #Angels. No timetable for return from DL.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) August 1, 2015The 34-year-old told Angels manager Mike Scioscia Thursday he can no longer pitch in his current condition. After spending Friday getting several tests, including an MRI and CT scan, Wilson said he may be headed for season-ending surgery to remove the bone spurs. He's seeking additional medical advice before deciding.
"There's no gray area," Wilson said. "You just run out of gas and then the tank's empty, and in this case, there's just no more elbow left to expire. The elbow is totally ground down at this point. I just have to get it cleaned out, rehab and I'll be fine again.”
MLB.com reported some Angels players were critical of Wilson’s decision, suggesting he could finish the season before having surgery.
"I've been pushing through it for a couple months," Wilson told MLB.com. “I’ve thrown 100 innings in this condition, and it's just consistently getting worse. As it gets worse, the risk of blowing my shoulder out and being completely done with baseball increases, and I'm not willing to take that risk.”
MLB.com reported that 26-year-old right-hander Drew Rucinski will probably get the start Sunday against the Dodgers in place of Wilson.