Anaheim, Calif. – The Los Angeles Angels finished last season with a record of 73-89. They finished in 4th place in the AL West and continued their streak of not making the playoffs since 2014. It was also their eighth straight season with a losing record (2016-present).
So, what has changed since the season ended?
They lost the best player in all of baseball to their cross-town rivals. They fired their coach Phil Nevin and brought in coach Ron Washington. The Angels are a young team with a veteran coach looking to surprise many and hope to play in October.
“Nobody has more respect from players than Ron Washington. When he talks, people listen. He’s got a way of connecting and giving people confidence and I think he’s gonna get the most out of our players. So I’m really, really excited to work with him.” said general manager of the Angels Perry Minasian.
Winning Projections, odds
- 74-88 According to PECOTA
- World Series Odds: +7500
Projected Lineup
- Luis Rengifo or Mickey Moniak
- Nolan Schanuel
- Mike Trout
- Anthony Rendon
- Taylor Ward
- Brandon Drury
- Logan O’Hoppe
- Jo Adell or Aaron Hicks
- Zach Neto
This lineup will have to score plenty of runs if the Angels hope to win many games. The projections have the Angels finishing fourth in the AL West the same as last year. Washington gave reporters this lineup as his potential lineup for the season. The leadoff hitter can be switched if he believes that Schanuel will be better there, but because he does not have leadoff speed, he prefers him in the second spot. Trout and Rendon will look to have people on base get plenty of RBIs this season.
Projected Rotation
- LHP Patrick Sandoval
- LHP Tyler Anderson
- LHP Reid Detmers
- RHP Chase Silseth
- RHP Griffin Canning
The Angels will have the same starting rotation as they had last season but missing their ace in Shohei Ohtani. Ownership did not go out in free agency to bring in help and the Angels are relying on bounce back years from their pitchers. Sandoval had an amazing World Baseball Classic in 2023 but that did not continue into the season. Tyler Anderson pitched his career best in 2022 with an ERA of 2.57 and that is why the Angels signed him to a three-year contract, but he was not an all-star for the Halos. He posted an ERA of 5.43 and a WHIP of 1.49. New pitching coach Barry Enright has his hands full in bringing this starting rotation up to par, so the Angels will have a chance of a good year.
Players to Watch
Mike Trout
Trout is once again the best player on the Angels. He struggled last year with injuries and had the worst season of his career only playing 82 games. He ended the season with .263 avg, 18 HR, 44RBI. Way below his career averages. Trout will look to be the superstar he has been in the past. Can he get back to his excellent play that got him an MVP in 2019?
“Play my game. That’s what I’m going to try to focus on this year coming into spring and enjoy it. In the past four years, I’ve been banged up a little bit. And I think a change of mindset: just go out there and play, whatever happens, it is what it is. That’s where I’m at.” Mike Trout via Angels Recap Podcast.
Anthony Rendon
Rendon is another former All-Star who was hurt a lot last season. He has not lived up to the contract the Angels gave him as a free agent after helping the Washington Nationals win the 2019 World Series. He has not hit over .300 since joining the Angels and has only played 200 total games.
The Angels need Rendon to show something close to the way he played in Washington to help the team win games. Rendon was all over social media for his comments regarding playing baseball. “It’s never been a top priority for me. This is a job. I do this to make a living. My faith, my family come first before this job. So, if those things come before it, I’m leaving.”
Successful Season
New coach Washington has said all the right things and has given the fans hope. Angels making it to the playoffs could be a long shot with the starting pitching they have and losing their best offensive player. Angels ownership can help its team by bringing in the 2023 Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who is still a free agent.
A successful season for the Angels is finishing in the top three of the AL West, having Trout and Rendon finish healthy with solid stats, and developing the young players. Baseball is a very tough and unpredictable sport, maybe Washington is the right coach to get this team back to October play.
No one saw the Diamondbacks making it to the playoffs last year and they almost won the whole thing
“The main thing that we want to do is make sure that we can bring the passion back and bring the joy,” said Washington. “I remember the days when you guys were the target and now we’re going to put us back on top and become the target again.”
