The Angels completed their first road trip of the season with a pair of series victories over the White Sox and Cardinals, giving them a 4-2 record heading into their home opener against the Guardians on Friday night at Angel Stadium. The Angels have been buoyed by strong performances from their starting pitchers but have had trouble keeping their bullpen fresh, as several relievers have pitched early and often this year. The offense has been a bit of a mixed bag after a slow start, but the bats have been heating up. With all that in mind, here are three takeaways from the club’s first road trip of the season: 1. The starting pitching has delivered
Starting pitchers Yusei Kikuchi, José Soriano, Jack Kochanowicz, Tyler Anderson and Kyle Hendricks combined for a 3.25 ERA in 36 innings through the club’s first six games. The Angels registered five quality starts over that stretch, with only Anderson failing to do that when he allowed three runs over five innings in Monday’s 5-4 win in St. Louis. The starters are averaging six innings per outing and giving the club a chance to win. Soriano looked particularly dominant in his outing against the White Sox on Saturday, allowing only two hits over seven scoreless innings on just 73 pitches. He’s considered a major breakout candidate after his strong showing last year in his first full big league season as a starting pitcher. Kochanowicz had a similarly efficient start, giving up two runs over six frames on only 64 pitches Sunday. Both pitchers possess high-velocity sinkers that can generate quick outs. |
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2. The offense needs to build on momentum
The Angels had a rough series offensively against the White Sox, scoring a combined five runs over their first three games and having trouble with runners in scoring position. But they did score five runs (in 10 innings) in their opener in St. Louis, nine more (in 11 innings) in Game 2 and five in a rough 12-5 loss in the series finale. But overall, Angels hitters are slashing just .198/.267/.310 with four homers. They picked up key hits when needed, however, as evidenced by their slash line of .265/.356/.500 in 46 plate appearances with runners in scoring position. Kyren Paris has unexpectedly been their best hitter after surprisingly making the club thanks to an impressive Spring Training that saw him debut his new swing modeled after Aaron Judge. He came up clutch with a go-ahead homer in the series finale against the White Sox before hitting a game-tying triple in the seventh and drawing a key walk to start a rally in the 10th inning of the Angels’ 5-4 win on Monday in St. Louis. But otherwise, superstar Mike Trout has been off to a slow start, hitting .143 in 26 plate appearances, but he has showed signs of getting out of his slump by doubling and flying out to the warning track on Tuesday before hitting his first homer on Wednesday. |
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3. The bullpen has been effective when not overtaxed
Key relievers such as Kenley Jansen (0.00 ERA, two saves in three innings), Ben Joyce (0.00 ERA in 2 2/3 innings) and Ryan Zeferjahn (0.00 ERA in 1 1/3 innings while pitching three straight days) have done their jobs. But new addition Ian Anderson has allowed five runs (four earned) in two innings and couldn't hold a late lead on Wednesday after Logan O'Hoppe's go-ahead grand slam. Veteran Brock Burke also had a rough showing in the St. Louis finale, allowing four runs while recording just two outs. The Angels had to ask a lot of their relievers during their four-game winning streak and essentially had to pay for it on Wednesday. Anderson and Burke were overworked, and the club didn’t have anybody else fresh, especially after Zeferjahn pitched in three straight days for the first time in his career. But it should be better after Thursday’s off-day, and the Angels could always bring up reinforcements. One positive is that Reid Detmers looked solid in his new role, throwing two scoreless innings with four strikeouts, and he should be ready to go in long relief this weekend. |
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Who did O’Hoppe join as the only Angels catchers with multiple career grand slams? A. Mike Napoli
B. Lance Parrish
C. Bengie Molina
D. Bob Boone |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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NETO BEGINS REHAB ASSIGNMENT |
In a bit of a surprise, shortstop Zach Neto already started his rehab assignment with Triple-A Salt Lake, indicating he’s not too far off from a return. Neto, though, is still only serving as the designated hitter and will need plenty of time in the field and at the plate before he returns, because he didn’t have a normal Spring Training after undergoing right shoulder surgery in early November. He's already started to warm up at the plate, though, blasting a solo homer in the third inning on Thursday. “Zach Neto [will] let us know by the way he handles himself out there catching the ball, being in positions, getting cutoffs and relays, when he'll be ready,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. “But right now, we're starting him off at DH, and we'll just see how it goes.” |
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ANGELS DON LA COUNTY FIRE CHIEF HELMETS AFTER HOME RUNS |
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To offer their support for the devasting fires that hit the region in January, the Angels are celebrating their home runs this year by wearing an LA County Fire chief helmet in the dugout. Paris was the first to wear it after his homer on Sunday and it was Trout’s idea. “I thought that it would be a good gesture to show some support to them,” Trout said. “I think our plan is, at the end of the season or middle of the season, everybody sign it from the team and then auction it off for charity.” |
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C. Molina, who hit a grand slam in 2000 and another in ’04 with the club. |
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