The Los Angeles Angels snapped a two-game losing streak with a 3-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in a matchup that saw José Suarez turn in his best start of the season.
The left-hander allowed just two hits over five scoreless innings and collected six strikeouts against three walks. Prior to the outing, the 25-year-old had pitched to a 10.26 ERA, 8.98 FIP and 2.28 WHIP through his first four starts.
Following his encouraging performance against the Brewers, Suarez improved to 1-1 with a 7.89 ERA, 7.59 FIP and 1.99 WHIP in 21.2 innings of work. Unlike last season when he similarly struggled early on, Suarez can’t be demoted to the Minors without first passing through waivers.
Angels manager Phil Nevin knows Suarez hasn’t gotten off to the start he wanted but trusts him to turn it around, per Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California News Group:
“He’s going through some stuff right now,” Nevin said. “The same things as last year. He had to go down and work on some things. That’s not going to happen this time. I trust him. He’s tough. He cares. It’s eating at him that he’s not performing the way he wants to. Coming off the way he finished the season last year, he’s expecting greatness this year and it’s not happening. It’s frustrating for him to get there, but he’ll get there.”
Suarez’s outing against the Brewers was a step in the right direction as Nevin previously hinted that changes could be coming if his struggles continued. Nevin, however, is reluctant to move Suarez to the bullpen as he believes it wouldn’t be beneficial.
Suarez is coming off a career year in 2022 but hasn’t been to replicate his success so far. When asked why he has pitched so poorly this season, he couldn’t pinpoint the issue.
But in the wake of a solid start against a projected playoff team on the road, Suarez will now be looking to build some momentum in the second full month of the regular season and his first test will come against the Texas Rangers.
Austin Warren to undergo Tommy John Surgery
After becoming one of the Angels’ most trusted relievers in 2021, Austin Warren has not been able to replicate that success the past two seasons.
He struggled to a 5.63 ERA across 16 innings last year and posted a 5.40 ERA in two appearances this year before he was shut down due to an injury.
The Angels’ plan was for Warren to take four to six weeks, but after undergoing more evaluations, he will be out much longer than they hoped. Warren is set to undergo Tommy John surgery after receiving a second opinion and discussing his options with a doctor.
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