Report: Angels plan to activate Richards this weekend

Garrett Richards' long journey back to a big-league mound may soon be complete.

The Los Angeles Angels starter, who has pitched just 4 2/3 innings in one start this season for the club, will reportedly be activated from the 60-day disabled list this weekend and may even start Monday against the Oakland Athletics, a source told the Los Angeles Times' Pedro Moura.

Richards has missed nearly all of the 2017 season due to nerve irritation in his right biceps. Coincidentally, his one appearance this season, on April 5, also came against the Athletics.

According to Moura, Richards threw two rehab innings Wednesday for Triple-A Salt Lake where he touched 98 mph on his fastball. The right-hander allowed five hits but no earned runs and struck out two batters in his first game action since leaving that April 5 start with an injury.

After acquiring Justin Upton earlier in the day, and with a trade for Brandon Phillips reportedly hinging on the Atlanta Braves second baseman's approval, getting back a healthy Richards could prove to be massive for the Angels' postseason aspirations. Though he was also limited to just six starts in 2016 after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, the 29-year-old hurler owns a career 3.56 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in a career 645 1/3 innings.