Struggling Dan Haren to have next turn skipped - MLB

It’s not hard to see why the Angels aren’t winning. Here’s how their rotation has fared since the All-Star break:

Jered Weaver: 5-1, 2.83 ERA
Dan Haren: 2-2, 5.04 ERA
Ervin Santana: 2-1, 5.06 ERA
Zack Greinke: 1-1, 5.54 ERA (since being acquired)
C.J. Wilson: 0-4, 5.61 ERA

Besides Kevin Jepsen, all of the relievers have ERAs over 5.00, too.

In light of his recent struggles, the Angels have decided to skip Haren’s next turn in the rotation. He actually pitched well in his first three starts after the break, only to give up 12 runs — 10 earned — in seven innings in his last two starts.

On Thursday, Haren surrendered seven hits, two of them homers, in 3 1/3 innings versus a Rays lineup that had gone 27 up and 27 down against Felix Hernandez the day before.

Haren’s troublesome back appears to be playing a role here, though he says it’s not as bad as it was earlier this season. The plan is for him to rejoin the rotation next Saturday against the Tigers. The Angels have Monday off, so they won’t need to replace him.

PITTSBURGH — The New York Mets will have to dig out of an early-season hole without star first baseman Pete Alonso.

The leading home run hitter in the majors will miss three-to-four weeks with a bone bruise and a sprain in his left wrist.

The Mets placed Alonso on the 10-day injured list Friday, retroactive to June 8. Alonso was hit in the wrist by a 96 mph fastball from Charlie Morton in the first inning of a 7-5 loss to Atlanta on Wednesday.

Alonso traveled to New York for testing on Thursday. X-rays revealed no broken bones, but the Mets will be missing one of the premier power hitters in the game as they try to work their way back into contention in the NL East.

“We got better news than it could have been,” New York manager Buck Showalter said. “So we take that as a positive. It could have been worse.”

New York had lost six straight heading into a three-game series at Pittsburgh that began Friday. Mark Canha started at first for the Mets in the opener. Mark Vientos could also be an option, though Showalter said the coaching staff may have to use its “imagination” in thinking of ways to get by without Alonso.

“I’m not going to say someone has to step up and all that stuff,” Showalter said. “You’ve just got to be who you are.”

Even with Alonso in the lineup, the Mets have struggled to score consistently. New York is 16th in the majors in runs scored.

The team also said Friday that reliever Edwin Uceta had surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Uceta initially went on the IL in April with what the team called a sprained left ankle. He is expected to be out for at least an additional eight weeks.

New York recalled infielder Luis Guillorme and left-handed reliever Zach Muckenhirn from Triple-A Syracuse. The Mets sent catcher Tomás Nido to Triple-A and designated reliever Stephen Nogosek for assignment.

Nogosek is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 13 games this season.