Tarik Skubal looked every bit like the arm everyone will be talking about as the trade deadline approaches, and the Los Angeles Angels had no answer for him in a 7-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers.
Skubal handled the Angels with ease, working through five hits without issuing a walk and piling up nine strikeouts. His ERA now sits at 2.83, and with the Aug. 3 deadline coming into view, he figures to be the biggest name in the sweepstakes.
Detroit gave him plenty of room to breathe almost immediately. Spencer Torkelson launched a three-run homer in the top of the first as part of a four-run opening rally, then the Tigers tacked on two more runs in the second on sacrifice flies from Colt Keith and James Outman. From there, the game was effectively out of reach, and Detroit kept rolling after that to win four of its last five series and move back into borderline wild-card contention.
For the Angels, the night turned into another rough outing for Grayson Rodriguez. The right-hander was tagged for six runs in the first two innings and finished with six runs allowed on seven hits, along with a walk and three strikeouts over four innings. His ERA climbed to 8.23.
Rodriguez’s night started with the big blow from Torkelson, and it only got worse when Brent Suter and Jose Fermin took over in relief. Suter allowed another Torkelson homer in the fifth, this one a solo shot.
Rodriguez remains an uncertain piece for the Angels as they continue to play out the string. They were hoping he could become a rotation fixture when they traded him for outfielder Taylor Ward, and there have been stretches in his career when he has flashed ace-level ability.
But the 26-year old right-hander has not come close to that kind of production for the Halos. When he has been sharp, he has looked serviceable; when he has not, the results have looked a lot like this one.
At this point, the best-case scenario may be that this season serves as a redshirt year for Rodriguez while he works his way back from a collection of injuries. Even then, nothing is guaranteed, especially after he already landed back on the IL earlier this season with lower back tightness.
In Other News...
Kurt Suzuki Gives Maui Little Leaguers A Special Angels Stadium Welcome
A trip to Angel Stadium turned into a memorable day for a Maui Little League team when manager Kurt Suzuki welcomed the group onto the field for batting practice and a round of meet-and-greets. The visit gave the young players a close look at big-league life, including time watching Angels hitters take swings and a chance to soak in the ballpark from the field level.
Suzuki, who wanted to give back to his home island community, helped make the stop happen after the Maui team earned its way into a major tournament in Southern California. The kids also left with autographs from several Angels players, a small but meaningful souvenir from a day that connected their baseball journey to one of their own. [Read more 🡒]
Reid Detmers Suddenly Feels Like The Angels Deadline Decision
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Interim general manager John Mozeliak may have the authority to decide whether that value gets cashed in, and the market already has a few familiar names attached to the conversation. The Braves, Brewers and Guardians have all been floated as possible partners, each with a prospect who fits the Angels preference for young hitters with power, but whether any of those talks actually turn into a deal is still the part everyone is waiting to learn. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Face Franchise Defining Deadline Choice Arte Moreno Usually Avoids
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What makes this one different is the long-term cost of standing still. The pitchers drawing attention are under team control through 2028, which gives the Angels more than a rental dilemma to sort through, and it also raises the bar for any return. Interim GM John Mozeliak now has to navigate not just the trade market, but the owners appetite for a move this significant, and whether Moreno is willing to break from his usual caution may end up defining the deadline. [Read more 🡒]