The Los Angeles Angels had twelve different starting pitchers make multiple starts in 2022 and with the addition of veteran right-hander Tyler Anderson and another year for the young arms, their rotation should be in good shape for 2023.
Starters logged a collective ERA of 3.67 with a 52-57 record in 843.1 innings pitched. Behind Shohei Ohtani and Patrick Sandoval, the Angels struggled to find consistency out of their rotation because of inexperience or lackluster performance from older arms.
But heading into 2023, the rotation looks like a strength. Ohtani is one of the best pitchers in baseball, Reid Detmers showed promise despite mixed results, Sandoval posted a 2.91 ERA in 27 starts and should benefit from a full offseason, Anderson was one of baseball’s most underrated arms and Jose Suarez had a late season breakout.
Behind them, they still need to find a sixth starter as the team utilizes a six-man rotation to limit Ohtani’s workload, but Angels manager Phil Nevin is confident in his options, via Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
But candidates include right-handers Griffin Canning and Chris Rodriguez, both of whom missed the 2022 season due to injury, and left-hander Tucker Davidson, who is out of options. Right-hander Jaime Barría is also in that mix, as well as right-handers Chase Silseth and Davis Daniel.
“We certainly like the options we have,” Nevin said. “There’s a lot of guys who can fit that role. Is it a traditional six? I don’t know if it’s going to look like that. Our starters are going to pitch when they are ready to pitch, especially Shohei. So it could become a swing deal. But we like what we have with our rotation.”
Rodriguez was one of the more promising prospects in the Angels system after showing early success in MLB during the 2021 season tossing 15.2 innings with a 2.30 ERA and a 3.11 FIP. His immediate production was a breath of fresh air after years of frustrating returns in the farm system.
Canning showed upside but has dealt with injuries that have significantly limited him. Barria could be considered the favorite, but he lacks upside, and Silseth showed he needed more work last season.
Chris Rodriguez nearing a return to Angels after injury
Following his early run in 2021, Rodriguez began to notice a nagging issue with his right shoulder, describing the feeling as a pain with a numbness that made it increasingly uncomfortable to pitch. He and the Angels opted for the surgery route when it was revealed he needed a capsule repair.
Using the offseason to rest and recover, its been reported that he’s taking large steps forward to get back on the mound.
Make sure to follow Angels Nation on Twitter for all the latest news and updates surrounding the Halos!
