The left-groin injury that closer Huston Street suffered Saturday night, one that Manager Mike Scioscia called “significant” on Sunday, did not give setup man Joe Smith any extra incentive to return any quicker from the left-ankle sprain he suffered on Sept. 19 in Minnesota.
“I wanted to pitch before Huston got hurt,” Smith said. “Now’s the time. Everything is on the line. I don’t want to sit here in the training room. I want to play. And if things keep moving in the right direction … we’re getting closer.”
Smith took a significant step toward a possible return later this week when the right-hander, wearing high-top cleats over a heavily taped ankle, threw about 25 pitches in the bullpen before Sunday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, half from the slope in front of the mound and half from the rubber.