Ervin Santana, the starting pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels who began the season on the disabled list, will miss his next start. After undergoing an MRI, the team diagnosed him with a forearm strain.

Santana reportedly believes that after skipping the start, which would have been on Tuesday, he’ll be able to go again when it’s his turn.

Last year, Santana was 16-7 with a 3.49 ERA. This year hasn’t been nearly as productive. In six starts, he has a 7.47 ERA and a record of 1-3. In 31.1 innings of work, he’s given up 45 hits and 13 walks while striking out only 21 batters.

The native of the Dominican Republic will be replaced in the starting rotation by Sean O’Sullivan. To make room for O’Sullivan, the Angels will reportedly place Kelvim Escobar on the DL.

At 33-29, the Angels have done a really fine job this year, especially considering all of the tragic loss of starting pitcher Nick Adenhart.

Ervin Santana Injury Update (Image: Newscom)

Kelvim Escobar, who hasn’t pitched in the major leagues in more than 19 months, will return to the mound on Saturday for the Los Angeles Angels. His return will be against the Detroit Tigers.

Kelvim Escobar Returns (Image: Zuma Press)

Shoulder surgery is the reason why he’s missed so much time. He didn’t pitch at all in 2008 and missed the beginning of this season while still recovering.

In 2007, Escobar was one of the best pitchers in the American League. In 30 starts, the native of Venezuela had an 18-7 record to go along with a 3.40 ERA.

Now 33 years old, Escobar has a lot to prove. In recent comments, he says that he feels healthy and wants to help his team.

If Escobar can return to the top of his game, that’d be a huge boost for the Angels. Currently, L.A. is 4.5 games behind the Texas Rangers in the American League West. Last season, the Angeles had the best record in baseball at 100-62. This year, their record is 26-25.

Andrew Gallo, the alleged driver responsible for killing Nick Adenhart and two of Adenhart’s friends, was indicted by a grand jury on six felonies. Three of those felony counts were for murder.

Adenhart was the young pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels who lost his life in an automobile accident on April 9th. Gallo, who later was found to have a blood-alcohol level of almost three times the California legal limit, was immediately arrested. With a long history of driving under the influence of alcohol, most legal experts expect that Gallo will have the book thrown at him.

Prior to his death, Adenhart had just made his season debut for the Angeles. A pitcher who had battled back from injuries, Adenhart threw six innings in which he didn’t allow a run.

Adenhart was only 22 years old when he died.

Rest in Peace, Nick Adenhart (Image: Newscom)

Josh Beckett of the Boston Red Sox started a brawl recently when he threw the ball over Bobby Abreu’s head after the Los Angeles Angels slugger had called a timeout. On Tuesday, Major League Baseball decided to suspend Beckett for six games for his role in starting the brawl.

Josh Beckett Suspended (Image: Flickr)

The 6-foot-5, 220-pound right-hander wasn’t too pleased with the decision:

“I respect the job they have to do,” said Beckett, “but I don’t agree.”

After the incident, Angels manager Mike Scioscia called for Beckett to be suspended. Once he heard of the suspension, he agreed.

“It makes us feel good that Major League Baseball really supported our position,” said Scioscia, “especially since we were somehow portrayed as the aggressors in that.”

Following the brawl, three members of the Angels were ejected, while no one on the Red Sox was ejected.

Beckett has a 1-1 record after two starts with a 3.46 ERA.

A day after Nick Adenhart was killed by a drunk driver, his Los Angeles Angels teammates got back to work. After remembering Adenhart in an emotional pregame ceremony, the Angels were able to beat the Boston Red Sox by a score of 6-3.

Nick Adenhart Remembered (Image: Newscom)

When Angels starting pitcher Jered Weaver took the mound, he put Adenhart’s initials in the dirt. He then threw 6.2 great innings in which he gave up only four hits and two walks, while striking out eight and allowing no earned runs.

To put the runs on the board, the Angels got big games from Bobby Abreu, Vladimir Guerrero and Jeff Mathis. Guerrero and Mathis were 2-for-4 at the plate, while Abreu was 3-for-4.

With the win, the Angels improve to 2-2. The loss dropped Boston’s record to 1-3.

After the game, the attention immediately returned to the Angels’ fallen teammate.

“I just keep hoping,” said Angels pitcher Kevin Jepsen, whose locker is next to Adenhart’s, “that he walks through that door.”

While spring training isn’t the greatest way to judge a baseball team, the exhibition standings aren’t as worthless as you may think. In fact, last year the Tampa Bay Rays had the best record during spring training and then went on to represent the American League in the 2008 World Series.

Who are the best teams during 2009 spring training? Here are the top five:

1. Los Angeles Angels
Last year, the Angels finished with the best record in baseball at 100-62. During 2009 spring training, Los Angeles is 24-7. They have outscored their opponents 247-158. All in all, it appears like it will be another very good year for the Angels.

2. New York Yankees
Like the Angels, this is no surprised. The Yankees spent millions upon millions of dollars during the offseason to better their roster. Even this early in the process, these Yankees look like World Series contenders. If their pitchers can remain healthy, they’ll be scary.

3. Milwaukee Brewers
After the Brewers lost CC Sabathia, many thought their chances of doing much in 2009 had vanished. But their bats look strong in spring training and the pitching has shown signs of potential. The Brewers are definitely a sleeper at this point.

4. Atlanta Braves
For many years, the Braves were a favorite in the National League. Currently, most experts don’t consider the Braves a true contender. Despite the doubters, the Braves are 20-11 in spring training and their pitching has been very impressive.

5. Texas Rangers
The Rangers are utilizing their typical formula. They’ve scored 226 runs so far in spring training but they’ve also given up 206 runs. The Rangers will score runs but their record will depend on whether or not Texas can have a halfway decent pitching staff.

Here is a video of Michael Young of the Rangers talking to Jim Rome:

Because there is no joke I could possibly come up with to improve upon the glory that is this shot, I would like to extend thanks on behalf of the Fox Network — they really, really needed it — to the New York Yankees. The Yanks join the Angels, Red Sox, and Indians in some yet-to-be-determined match-ups.

All kidding aside, spraying champagne around a locker room seems immeasurably fun. In the future, I plan on lining my abode with plastic and uncorking a bottle of J. Roget anytime I do anything that’s remotely satisfactory.