Nick Tropeano misses a start due to illness, another potential setback to Angels’ rotation plans

Nick Tropeano ambled into the Angels’ clubhouse a few minutes after 8 a.m. Monday carrying a plastic bag packed with Pedialyte and assorted sports drinks.

The 25-year-old right-hander had been scratched from his scheduled start against Milwaukee because of flu symptoms. The Angels made the decision early in the morning and told right-hander Cory Rasmus he would get the start.

Tropeano will miss a full turn in the rotation, and he has not finished four innings in a start this spring — a blow to the Angels’ already thin depth in starting pitching.

With uncertainty surrounding the health of veteran right-hander Jered Weaver, Tropeano was being counted on. And Manager Mike Scioscia did not want to rule him out for the start of the regular season.

“There’s still a schedule that has him ready to go and in the running for one of our rotation spots,” Scioscia said. “He is not knocked out because of this.”

The Angels entered this spring with eight starters expected to be ready for opening day. Left-handers C.J. Wilson and Tyler Skaggs have already been ruled out, and Weaver and Tropeano are now in doubt.

Weaver will start a Cactus League game Friday. If Weaver is deemed healthy, Tropeano would be in competition with right-hander Matt Shoemaker for the fifth spot.

During their 2014 pennant race, the Angels asked Rasmus to make six consecutive starts, and he delivered a 2.37 earned-run average over 19 innings. He said he thought back to those times when he heard Monday’s news.

Rasmus threw two innings against Milwaukee, walking two and giving up one run. He said he’d love to transition to a full-time starting role but did not foresee that happening — although the situation had changed because of the rash of pitcher injuries.

“Unfortunately, it has,” Rasmus said. “But, at the same time, they might go get somebody.”

Salt Lake bound

Mike Trout will catch a flight to Utah on Tuesday morning as the leader of a sizable Angels contingent that will attend an afternoon exhibition game against the club’s Salt Lake City-based triple-A affiliate.

Fifty-five players are on the roster for what is essentially an intrasquad scrimmage. Fifty-two are minor leaguers. Trout, right fielder Kole Calhoun and first baseman C.J. Cron are the exceptions.

Pitchers Garrett Richards, Mike Morin, Cam Bedrosian and Skaggs, who all played for Salt Lake on their way up, are also making the trip but will not pitch.

Short hops

Former Angels third baseman and utilityman Chone Figgins officially signed a one-day contract with the organization and retired. During a conference call with reporters, he thanked Angels fans for their support, particularly the fan he came across several years ago who owned a GOFIGGO vanity license plate. “That’s crazy,” Figgins said. “You have to pay taxes on that.” Figgins is 38.

Outfielder Todd Cunningham left camp to undergo a CT scan on his sore left wrist. The results came back negative. The injury has bothered him since March 3.

Skaggs’ scheduled Thursday return to pitch in a minor league game has been upgraded to Cactus League action. He is scheduled to pitch two innings against the Chicago White Sox. Skaggs is recovering from Tommy John elbow ligament-replacement surgery and is on track to pitch in the majors by the end of April.

pedro.moura@latimes.com

Twitter: @pedromoura