Richards (biceps) underwent a spine MRI that ruled out nerve or cervical disc issues on Thursday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Richards is still struggling to regain strength in his biceps, so the Angels will continue to evaluate him. Although it's definitely good that the Angels were able to rule spinal issues out, they still don't have a diagnosis on Richards's lingering issues. As such, it remains unclear when he'll be able to return, but expect him to miss at least another couple of weeks as the tests continue.

Richards (biceps) has not yet resumed throwing, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander was hoping to pick up a baseball Tuesday, but he was not cleared to do so, and the Angels do not have a date in mind for him to start up with a throwing program. Richards has been shut down for over a week after being diagnosed with nerve irritation in his biceps. JC Ramirez is slated to start Friday and may take several turns in Richards' absence.

Richards (biceps) was placed on the 10-day DL on Friday, Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register reports.

EDGE Analysis

Mike Morin was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake in a corresponding move. The news on Richards has been generally positive, as an MRI revealed his elbow is structurally sound, yielding a diagnosis of nerve irritation in his biceps. However, the injury, which forced Richards from Wednesday's game after 4.2 innings, will result in him missing at least one start.

Richards' MRI on Friday showed that his elbow is sound, but he has been diagnosed with nerve irritation in the biceps and is likely to miss his next start, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

It is encouraging that we can rule out Tommy John surgery for now, but this diagnosis will still potentially require a DL stint. Richards has frontline stuff when healthy, and the risk was cooked into his draft-day price this year, so owners shouldn't feel too snakebitten just yet. His status will be updated when a rehab plan is announced. JC Ramirez is an option to make a spot start on Tuesday, or the Angels could take advantage of Monday's off day and go until April 15 before needing a fifth starter. Alex Meyer would be the presumed top option to be promoted from the Triple-A rotation if they opt to go that route.

Richards (biceps) will undergo an MRI on Friday, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Richards was experiencing bicep cramps during Wednesday's game and had to be pulled after 4.2 scoreless innings. While the team has said that the MRI is precautionary, owners will want to monitor his status. Further news regarding his availability should be available after his upcoming examination.

Richards was forced to leave Wednesday's game with what is apparently being diagnosed as a biceps cramp, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Updating an earlier report, it appears the very early diagnosis for Richards is a biceps cramp. The 28-year-old was looking sharp in his first start since May before being forced to leave with a trainer. He will likely undergo further testing tomorrow, so there should be another update on his status in the coming days.

Richards left Wednesday's game with an apparent injury, Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

In his first start since last May, when he opted to forego Tommy John surgery and instead try alternative stem cell therapy to treat his damaged UCL, Richards exited the game in the fifth inning with a trainer. He was reportedly motioning to his arm and mentioning his biceps as he was walked off the field. The 28-year-old threw 4.2 scoreless innings and recorded four strikeouts before giving way to Jose Alvarez. More should be known about his status after the game, but consider him day-to-day until then.

Richards tossed four innings of one-run ball Friday, walking one and striking out three in a loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Richards lowered his spring ERA to 5.11 through 12.1 innings. While the results weren't always pretty, the key to his spring was the return of his mid- to high-90s fastball after undergoing alternative stem cell therapy to treat a damaged UCL. The 28-year-old has been an effective fantasy starter when healthy, but the unorthodox treatment of an injury that usually requires Tommy John surgery will have fantasy owners sitting on pins and needles every time he takes the mound. Richards will open the season as the club's third starter, making his 2017 debut Wednesday against the Athletics.

Richards made his second start of the spring, tossing 2.1 shutout innings while walking two and striking out four in a loss to the Dodgers.

EDGE Analysis

Richards got roughed up a bit in his first Cactus League outing, but he showed that he could still ramp his fastball up to the mid-90s mark it was prior to suffering an elbow injury last season. Saturday's start was another step in the right direction for the 28-year-old, exhibiting better command and limiting the Dodgers to just one hit. Richards said that he wants to become a more efficient pitcher with the Angels likely limiting him to 100 pitches during the regular season. The impending pitch limit and the alternative treatment for his torn UCL make Richards a risky fantasy option this season. On the flip side, the hard-throwing righty has been an effective fantasy starter in the past, so there is some upside here if everything breaks his way and the price is right.

Richards gave up three runs over two innings with two strikeouts and no walks Sunday in his first outing of the spring. His reached 97 mph with one fastball. "I got excited on a couple pitches but overall everything was kind of doing what I wanted it to," he told the Orange County Register. "It's a good one to build off of."

EDGE Analysis

Richards missed the last five months of the 2016 season after being diagnosed with a torn UCL, and he opted to forego Tommy John surgery and instead try stem-cell therapy. It looks like he'll be ready for the start of the regular season, but his pitch counts and innings workload may be reduced this season to keep him healthy.