With what was a formidable unit during the early months of the regular season, the Los Angeles Angels pitching staff has been struggling to navigate their way through a myriad of injuries.
Coming into play on Aug. 18, the Angels’ bullpen has posted a second-half ERA of 5.55 in 110.1 innings pitched, fourth-worst in Major League Baseball. Their 1.71 HR/9 allowed is the highest mark in MLB, and has accounted for a lot of their regression in these critical games.
Angels starters, meanwhile, have a 4.61 ERA, ranking 19th in MLB with the 21st-ranked WHIP at 1.34.
The Angels have unfortunately placed six of their key contributing relievers on the injured list, five of which are on the 60-day IL and are likely out for the remainder of the year. Trade deadline moves and a few call-up arms from the minors have filled out the group for the time being.
Their All-Star closer Carlos Estévez has taken a step back with some recent blow up opportunities, and when trying to pinpoint where the problems begin and end. Angels manager Phil Nevin expressed a need for players to rise to the occasion, instead of putting the blame on pitching coach Matt Wise, per Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
“I love the rapport he has with the pitchers, the way they respond to him,” Nevin said. “There are some guys that have taken some steps forward. I understand some guys have taken some steps back, but I don’t put that on Matt. Yes, coaching is a lot of it, but at this level, you gotta be a man and figure some things out on your own to be a professional.”
Wise has been with the organization since the 2020 season. General manager Perry Minasian echoed the sentiment that Nevin has, highlighting the volatility of young pitchers, which make up a lot of the Angels staff, in general:
“It takes time for pitchers to settle into the major leagues and be consistent and start rolling off quality years, year in and year out,” Minasian said. “We knew that risk heading into the season with a young group. There are going to be ups and downs. It’s a young, talented group that I feel like is going to continue to get better the more experience they get.”
With the starting pitching having its own levels of variability with spotty performances, relying on a bullpen to lockdown scoring is tough, especially with an entirely new crop of arms.
Angels farm system ranks No. 28 in MLB
The Angels farm system was ranked No. 28 in MLB Pipeline’s 2023 midseason update, ahead of only the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros.
Their low ranking can be attributed to the orgnaization having only one prospect in MLB Pipeline’s top 100 rankings. That honor belongs to rookie catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who checks in at No. 31. Once he graduates from prospect status, they’ll be without a prospect within the top 100 ranks.
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