HOUSTON — Ryan Johnson 2.0 is going to make his major league debut on Monday.

Last year the Angels put the right-hander in the big league bullpen out of spring training, even though he’d never thrown a pitch in the minors. Johnson had a 7.36 ERA and got shipped all the way down to Class-A to work as a starter in May.

After a few good months in the minors and a 3.05 ERA this spring, Johnson is back, this time as a starter. He’ll take the ball against the Chicago Cubs on Monday at Wrigley Field.

What’s different now?

“Just the experience of going through last season and getting the confidence in who I am, understanding professional hitters more, how to work counts,” Johnson said.

Johnson, 23, also has improved his changeup, a pitch that often gets classified as a splitter. Last season he threw it just 16 times — 15 of them to lefties — and he didn’t get any whiffs. This spring he threw it 62 times and hitters whiffed on 38% of their swings.

Better command of that pitch should help Johnson improve on the .455 average lefties had against him last season. The Cubs have three lefties and a switch hitter in their projected lineup, and they could add a fourth lefty if they start Michael Conforto.

Catcher Travis d’Arnaud said Johnson also has better command generally of his two fastballs. His cutter also generated a 35% whiff rate and a .111 batting average against in spring training, compared to a 31% whiff rate and a .391 average last season.

“He’s able to locate both of his heaters to all four quadrants,” d’Arnaud said. “I think we saw a little taste of that last year. In spring training and in bullpens, he’s got more command than I remember.”

Johnson struck out 23 and walked five in 20⅔ innings this spring.

“When you can cut and sink to both sides of the plate, it makes the plate that much wider, and should get more chase,” d’Arnaud said.

Manager Kurt Suzuki said that’s been a focus of pitching coach Mike Maddux.

“Mad Dog emphasized commanding both sides of the plate, keeping the hitters honest and not just leaning out and cutting the plate in half,” Suzuki said. “That type of stuff is going to be a big help for him, because the stuff is there. It’s just how now refining how we’re going to attack each guy.”

ROSTER MOVES

The Angels optioned right-hander Walbert Ureña and called up right-hander Shaun Anderson on Sunday. They designated right-hander Victor Mederos for assignment to open a 40-man spot for Anderson.

The Angels made the moves in order to add some coverage for a bullpen that was taxed during the first three games in Houston. On Saturday they had only four relievers available and then starter Reid Detmers got knocked out in the fifth inning.

Ureña will start at Triple-A, manager Kurt Suzuki said.

“We all see the stuff’s there,” Suzuki said. “For a younger player, the game can get fast a little bit. I love the guy, you know. He’s such a hard worker, a great teammate. He’s got such a bright future. I’m excited for him to go down, get him into a groove. We’re going to see him back for sure.”

Ureña, 22, pitched in two games. He recorded five outs and gave up six runs, although all of them were unearned. He allowed five hits and he walked three, one intentionally.

The move with Mederos comes a couple days after he gave up seven runs in three innings in his first start of the season at Triple-A. The Angels had high hopes for Mederos, who showed significant improvement last season after his arm angle was changed. He will now be exposed to waivers.

“Hopefully we can keep him,” Suzuki said. “But at the end of the day, an arm like that, you just never know.”

NOTES

The Angels shuffled their lineup after using the same order in each of the first three games. D’Arnaud got his first start of the season at catcher instead of Logan O’Hoppe. Adam Frazier got the start at second instead of Oswald Peraza. Mike Trout was moved to DH, with Jorge Soler going into right field, and Jo Adell moving to center. …

Right-hander Hunter Strickland, who accepted a minor-league deal to return to the Angels, gave up four runs in one inning in his first Triple-A outing of the season on Saturday. …

The Angels traded left-hander Jayvien Sandridge to the Baltimore Orioles for cash considerations. Sandridge had been designated for assignment earlier in the week.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Ryan Johnson, 1-1, 7.36 ERA in 2025) at Cubs (RHP Edward Cabrera, 8-7, 3.53 ERA in 2025), Monday, 4:40 p.m. PT, FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM