The Angels head into Pittsburgh trying to put a miserable homestand behind them, and they’ll open the trip with Ryan Johnson on the mound against Jared Jones.
That’s the assignment as Los Angeles looks for a series win that would mark a real jolt after winning just once in its last 10 games. The trip starts tonight, and for the Angels, the formula is simple enough: get strong work from the starter, stay close, and hope the rest holds together long enough to steal a game.
Johnson has quietly been one of the better signs in a shaky stretch for the rotation. He’s still working through an uneven start to his season, but over his last five outings he has allowed just five earned runs.
One of those performances stood out in a big way: a one-hit, seven-inning shutout against the Texas Rangers on Aug. 22.
The downside is that Johnson hasn’t fully solved the command issues. Walks remain a problem, and so does going deep into games, which was on display in his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies in Anaheim. He allowed only one run over five innings, but he also walked five and gave up two hits while constantly pitching out of trouble.
On paper, the matchup gives him a chance to keep rolling. The Pirates’ offense can be feast or famine, which makes this look like a spot where Johnson could build on his recent run. But even if he delivers, the Angels still have to survive the late innings, and that has been a mess for much of the season.
Ben Joyce has shown signs of settling things down after returning from surgery, but the relief group has been chaotic from the sixth inning on. With the recent sale of the team, none of the current relievers are expected to be in Anaheim next season except Joyce, and there’s not much reason to think the late-game problems are going away anytime soon.
The offense hasn’t made life any easier. Los Angeles has scored more than three runs only once in its last 12 games, which leaves the club reliant on low-scoring nights and clean starting pitching. Outside of Zach Neto and Mike Trout, the lineup has been described as mostly Triple-A level, and shutdowns have become part of the routine.
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For Angels fans, the larger issue is not just one trade. It is the old debate about development, timing and whether the organization gave a high-upside bat enough runway before moving on. Adells early success with Cleveland only sharpens that conversation, because it comes at a moment when the Guardians are looking for offense and the Angels are left to watch another former piece settle in elsewhere and immediately look more comfortable. [Read more 🡒]
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Kroenkes track record is what keeps the speculation from going away. His sports and real estate footprint includes projects such as SoFi Stadium and Dick's Sporting Goods Park, developments that show how ownership vision can eventually turn into something much bigger than a ballpark itself. For Angels fans, the uncertainty is the point - plans for Angel Stadium and whatever might surround it could still take years to come into focus, and right now the future is more possibility than blueprint. [Read more 🡒]
Tarik Skubal Just Put Real Pressure On The Angels This Offseason
Tarik Skubals comments about the Angels new ownership under Stan Kroenke gave the organization a little extra oxygen at a time when it could use it. The buzz around the change has already stirred optimism among fans, and Skubal added to that by suggesting the club may now be more appealing to players who previously would not have viewed it as a serious destination.
For the Angels, though, the larger storyline is what comes next. Skubal did not offer any commitment about his own free agency, and his upbeat tone could also be part of a broader effort to drum up interest from multiple teams. Either way, the Angels suddenly find themselves with a fresh bit of offseason intrigue attached to one of the markets most watched names. [Read more 🡒]