The Angels reinstated Natera (back) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday.
Natera was on the 15-day injured list due to lower back spasms that he started getting bothered by Aug. 15. The southpaw began a rehab assignment with Single-A Cucamonga on Friday and also made an appearance Sunday. Through the two games, the 26-year-old tossed two scoreless innings on zero hits, a walk and a strikeout.
Natera (back) will begin a rehab assignment Friday with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Natera landed on the 15-day injured list less than a week ago after experiencing lower-back spasms, but he resumed mound work Tuesday and is nearing a return to game action. The lefty reliever is eligible for activation Sept. 1 and is tracking toward a return on that date.
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Angels' Samy Natera: Completes bullpen session
Rotowire
Natera (back) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Natera was placed on the 15-day injured list with lower-back spasms Aug. 20, and the move was made retroactive to Aug. 17. The southpaw felt good after Tuesday's session, and he outlined that he expects his stint on the IL to be short. Natera is eligible to be activated on Sept. 1, and he may be tracking towards returning on or close to that date.
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Angels' Samy Natera: Tallies second save
Rotowire
Natera secured the save against the Orioles on Thursday, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in 1.1 innings. He struck out two.
The departure of Kirby Yates to Pittsburgh at the trade deadline has since opened up ninth-inning work for the Angels. Natera appears to be firmly in the mix alongside Ben Joyce, having been scored upon just one time in his past 11 outings while tallying multiple punchouts on eight occasions during that span. Natera is now 2-for-2 in save opportunities, boasting a 2.16 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 38:10 K:BB with four holds across 25 innings.
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Angels' Samy Natera: Records first career save
Rotowire
Natera picked up the save Sunday against the Athletics. He allowed a hit and no walks while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings.
Natera entered with two outs in the eighth inning and finished off the game with little resistance, earning the first save of his big-league career. Since having his contract selected June 5, the 26-year-old has posted a 0.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB across 9.1 innings. Natera could continue to see high-leverage opportunities in a suspect Angels bullpen that lacks a defined closer, with Ryan Zeferjahn, Kirby Yates and Sam Bachman combining for five saves as part of an informal closer committee.
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Angels' Samy Natera: Called up to majors
Rotowire
The Angels selected Natera's contract from Triple-A Salt Lake on Friday.
Natera has pitched well out of the bullpen in Triple-A, where he has a 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 44:18 K:BB across 30 innings. He'll now get a shot with the Angels, and Natera's first call to the mound will officially be his major-league debut. The move corresponds with the Angels designating right-hander Shaun Anderson for assignment.
