Angels push back C.J. Wilson's next start

C.J. Wilson's next start for the Angels has been pushed back, manager Mike Scioscia announced Wednesday.

Wilson came out of his last start with stiffness in his elbow. As a result, his start will be pushed back to Saturday against the Texas Rangers.

Nick Tropeano will now start Thursday's game after being called up from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday when Matt Shoemaker was placed on the Bereavement List.

Tropeano, a fifth-round pick in 2011 by the Astros, was acquired by the Angels in an offseason trade that sent catcher Hank Conger to Houston. The Stony Brook product made two starts for Salt Lake this season, surrendering up 10 hits and five earned runs in 11 innings.

After Tropeano starts Thursday, Garrett Richards will make his second start of the season Friday in the series-opener against the Rangers.

Scioscia says he could move up Richards' next start "if he had to," but the Angels' manager preferred to err on the side of caution with his newly healed starting pitcher.

Wilson pitched eight shutout innings for the win in his season debut, but he's dropped his last two starts, allowing eight earned runs.

Scioscia says Shoemaker should return to the rotation next week from the Bereavement List.