Report: Garrett Richards has biceps nerve irritation, elbow structurally sound

The Los Angeles Angels got back some good news on their ace pitcher Friday.

Pedro Moura of the LA Times reports that an MRI on right-hander Garrett Richards showed that his elbow is structurally sound. However, Richards has been diagnosed with biceps nerve irritation and will likely miss his next start.

Sources: MRI this morning showed Garrett Richards' elbow is sound. He has nerve irritation in the biceps & is likely to miss his next start.

— Pedro Moura (@pedromoura) April 7, 2017

Richards, 28, had to exit his first start of the season on Wednesday with what was originally believed to be a biceps cramp. He had thrown 4 2/3 scoreless innings against the Oakland Athletics with three hits, one walk, and four strikeouts at the time of his departure.

Any health-related issue with Richards is a major cause for concern after he missed most of 2016 with a torn UCL in his pitching elbow and opted for stem cell treatment and plasma injections over Tommy John surgery. But for now, it sounds like Angels fans can breathe a sigh of relief.