Angels’ Tyler Skaggs scratched; Hector Santiago will start Tuesday

Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs was scratched from Tuesday night’s start against the Oakland Athletics because of a right hamstring strain that will send the 22-year-old left-hander to the disabled list, Manager Mike Scioscia announced Monday.

Left-hander Hector Santiago, demoted to the bullpen on May 9 and then to triple-A Salt Lake on May 21, will be called up to start against the A’s.

Scioscia said that Skaggs, who is 4-4 with a 4.34 earned-run average in 12 starts, did not injure himself on any particular play last Thursday night in Houston, a game in which Skaggs allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings of an 8-5 loss.

“He felt it a little bit after his start — he came out a little sore,” Scioscia said. “We’re doing this more as a precaution to make sure he gets it behind him. We don’t anticipate him being out for more than two weeks, but hamstring injuries can take on a life of their own.”

Santiago, who along with Skaggs was acquired by the Angels in last December’s three-team Mark Trumbo trade, opened the season as the No. 3 starter but went 0-6 with a 5.19 ERA in seven games, striking out 31, walking 18 and allowing six home runs in 37 1/3 innings.

The Angels moved Santiago to the bullpen, where he made only two appearances in 10 days, and then to Salt Lake, where he could remain stretched out as a starter. Santiago went 1-1 with a 6.43 ERA in three games with the Bees, striking out nine and walking seven in 14 innings.

“He’s making progress with his command, and he feels much better about what he needs to do on the mound,” Scioscia said of Santiago, “so hopefully he’ll bring it into the game tomorrow.”

One of Santiago’s best starts of the season was against Oakland on April 14, when he allowed one run and five hits in seven innings, getting no decision.