Angels' Richards won't be ready for Opening Day

Despite his reluctance, Los Angeles Angels right-hander Garrett Richards had his status for Opening Day decided for him. 

The 26-year-old has been rehabbing from season-ending knee surgery with hopes of being ready to start the season, but manager Mike Scioscia officially ruled him out Sunday. 

"It’s not going to be opening day, let’s put it that way," Scioscia told Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com. "He knows it. He's not going to be able to rush it because our medical staff is not going to let him. There's a progression. He has to pass every plateau. It's great that he's going to shoot for being ready by Opening Day, he's working very hard to be ready by Opening Day - but he's not going to be ready Opening Day."

Richards posted the best season of his four-year career in 2014 - his first exclusively as a starter. In 26 appearances, he posted a 13-4 record and 2.61 ERA while striking out 164 in 168 2/3 innings. 

Gonzalez notes that Richards is two-to-three weeks behind other pitchers and remains at least a week away from being unrestricted in workouts.