The odds of Matt Shoemaker playing a prominent role for the Los Angeles Angels this October seemed to increase Sunday when the right-hander said he “felt great after a bullpen workout of 30-40 pitches,” reports Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

Shoemaker, sidelined since September 15 with a strained rib cage, is expected to face hitters in Angel Stadium on Tuesday or Wednesday. The 27-year-old enjoyed a breakout season with 16 wins, a 3.04 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP.

The Angels are expected to start Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson in Games One and Two of the Division Series. DiGiovanna reports the Angels are “leaning heavily toward using a three-man rotation” with Shoemaker likely starting Game Three.

Depending on how Shoemaker’s workouts play out over the next few days, another possibility would be to use him out of the bullpen. He is among several middle- to back-of-the-rotation starters around the majors who could end up with prominent bullpen roles over the next few weeks.