The sun's out in Tempe, and so are the Angels - pitchers, catchers, and a new manager in tow. Kurt Suzuki, stepping into his first spring as the man in charge, made it clear from the jump: the 2026 Angels rotation isn’t locked in just yet. There are jobs to be won, and no one’s getting a free pass.
What we do know is this - Yusei Kikuchi, José Soriano, and Reid Detmers are penciled into the starting five. That’s the foundation Suzuki is building on. Beyond that, it’s a fluid situation, especially with two intriguing, high-upside arms trying to work their way back into the mix: Grayson Rodriguez and Alek Manoah.
Both come with talent, pedigree, and… well, some recent health concerns. Rodriguez, a key offseason pickup from the Orioles, is coming off elbow surgery - a debridement procedure last August.
Manoah, meanwhile, missed all of last season rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. After being cut loose by the Blue Jays, he found a new home in Anaheim, and now he’s trying to find his way back into a big-league rotation.
If both are healthy - and that’s still a big “if” - there’s a good chance they’ll round out the rotation. But Suzuki isn’t handing out jobs based on past performance or potential. This spring is about proving it on the mound.
And they won’t be alone in the battle. Rookie right-hander Caden Dana is firmly in the mix, and so are a few other young arms: Sam Aldegheri, Jack Kochanowicz, and Mitch Farris.
Tyler Bremner and George Klassen will be in camp too, though neither is expected to break camp with the big club. Still, the depth is there, and competition should be fierce.
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the Angels' pitching was a mess last year. Their team ERA sat at 4.89, worst in the American League.
Only the Nationals and Rockies fared worse across all of MLB. And when you zoom in on the starters?
The numbers get even uglier: a 4.91 ERA, right near the bottom of the barrel.
That’s the challenge facing Suzuki and new pitching coach Mike Maddux. But there’s also opportunity.
Detmers is back and looking to build on flashes of promise. Kikuchi and Soriano bring experience and upside.
And if Rodriguez and Manoah can stay healthy and regain form, the rotation could look a whole lot more competitive than it did a year ago.
Spring training will be the proving ground. Suzuki’s not just trying to fill five spots - he’s trying to build a staff that can keep this team competitive. And with the rotation still taking shape, every bullpen session, every live BP, every Grapefruit League start is going to matter.
The Angels don’t need perfection this spring. But they do need answers. And over the next few weeks in Tempe, Suzuki and his staff will start figuring out who’s ready to take the ball every fifth day.