Everything was in place for Reid Detmers to have the breakout 2024 campaign that the Los Angeles Angels were hoping for. Through his first four starts — 22.2 innings — Detmers held a 1.19 ERA and a 0.971 WHIP with 31 strikeouts. He had all of his pitches working to their fullest potential and looked virtually unhittable at times during this stretch.
Things have taken a sharp downturn for Detmers in his last three starts, however. In 17.2 innings over three starts since April 22, Detmers has allowed 16 earned runs (8.15 ERA) with an opponent OPS of .915 and a 1.528 WHIP. This culminated in a seven-run outing against the Cleveland Guardians that looked very similar to some of his early poor performances.
Detmers, when his stuff is not fully focused, can easily be snake-bitten by the home run ball. He gave up three on Saturday night in 5.2 innings of work. And the lack of consistency is leading to frustration for the young Angels starter, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
“It’s frustrating,” Detmers said. “It comes down to execution, I guess. That’s baseball. I have to live and learn. We’re going to get over this, we’re going to get past this. We just have to take it start by start and I’m looking forward to next week and a new challenge.”
“It was a poor performance,” Detmers said. “I don’t have any other explanation. I just didn’t execute very well. I was feeling good and the two homers before that hurt but I didn’t think much of it. But the three walks in the sixth can’t happen. And they made me pay.”
Detmers, 24, is still learning how to find consistency and how to fight through days where his stuff isn’t where he’d like it to be. And while a breakout season could still, in theory, be in the cards for Detmers, he is going to have to work to find that rhythm again.
His next start projects to be at home against the Kansas City Royals on Thursday, May 9. Getting back at home should give Detmers a chance to reset.
Angels go for first series win in over a month
With a win on Sunday against the Guardians, the Angels could secure their first series win in over a month and just their second series win of the season. Griffin Canning is on the mound for the Halos facing off against Carlos Carrasco for Cleveland. The Angels then travel to Pennsylvania for a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
