Los Angeles Angels right-hander Griffin Canning, who has been dealing with elbow issues throughout spring training, will open the season on the sidelines.
Canning is receiving "biological injections" in his troublesome right elbow in Los Angeles on Friday, the team announced. He will be re-evaluated in three-to-four weeks, around when the regular season begins.
Canning has only pitched in one Cactus League game due to his discomfort. In an MRI taken last week, "chronic changes" to his ulnar collateral ligament were discovered, along with acute joint irritation.
The pitcher said he hasn't suffered a torn UCL and his elbow joint is fine, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Canning was told there are tissues rubbing together in his elbow.
The 23-year-old is expected to be a key piece of what the Angels hope will be a much-improved rotation in 2020. Canning posted a 4.58 ERA along with 96 strikeouts across 90 1/3 big-league innings last year, while his 1.22 WHIP led the team's primary starters.
Right elbow inflammation ended his rookie season last August.
