Fatigue might force Garrett Richards to bypass Friday start for Angels

Reporting From MILWAUKEE —  The dehydration and cramping that forced Garrett Richards out of his Sunday start in Texas has evolved into “general fatigue,” as the Angels have called it, and his scheduled Friday start against Tampa Bay at Angel Stadium is in question.

“We’re going to be cautious,” Manager Mike Scioscia said.

Richards did not throw his normal between-starts bullpen session. After throwing 79 pitches over four innings Sunday, he played catch normally Monday and Tuesday, but did not do so Wednesday. The Angels will have to make a day-of-game decision based on how he reports feeling Friday.

“I’m still a little bit fatigued,” Richards said. “My body’s a little tired. I’m just trying to bounce back. Everything just doesn’t feel as crisp right now.”

He saw a doctor at Texas’ Globe Life Park on Sunday, and said he will see another doctor Thursday to be re-examined. He said he is consuming lots of fluids, Pedialyte in particular.

Richards insisted that nothing hurt, that he was “just not feeling 100%.”

Losing the 27-year-old right-hander, even if just for one start, would represent another jab at the Angels’ pitching staff, a group that has already been decimated by injuries to three members and poor performance by another.

Matt Shoemaker, the poor performer, is scheduled to start Friday for triple-A Salt Lake. It’s unlikely he’ll be the contingency plan if Richards cannot pitch, because calling him up would require disabling another player.

Scioscia would not delve into who the Angels would choose to start the game if Richards is deemed unavailable.

“We’ll have a pitcher,” he said.

Most likely, right-hander Cory Rasmus would start and throw up to three innings, commencing a parade of relievers. The Angels’ weekend series against the Rays is bookended by off days, increasing the viability of that plan.

Short hops

Closer Huston Street, on the disabled list the last week with a strained oblique suffered in warmups, said he hopes to play catch in roughly 10 days, after which he would need at least one week to resume pitching in games. … Scioscia hinted that left fielder Rafael Ortega will be optioned to triple-A Salt Lake when Daniel Nava is ready to return from the disabled list, perhaps Friday. Ortega has performed above expectations in Nava’s absence, but fills the same role. “Rafael Ortega has been a tremendous spark for us,” Scioscia said. “You couldn’t ask for any more than he’s done. But we know Daniel Nava’s potential and what he could mean to our lineup.”