The Angels head into the series finale against the Giants with the same larger question hanging over them: who’s still around after the trade deadline? For now, though, the ball goes to Jose Soriano, and that makes this game feel more like a showcase than a chase for a win.
Soriano has been one of the more interesting names in the Angels’ pitching picture. The 27-year-old right-hander opened the season looking like an ace for the first month, but the shine has worn off since then.
Over his last 14 starts, he’s posted a 4.90 ERA, and his 54 walks lead the American League. The raw stuff is there.
The consistency hasn’t been.
That uncertainty is part of a bigger decision for the Angels on the mound. Soriano and left-hander Reid Detmers are the two starters most tied to the “who stays and who goes” conversation, and interim GM John Mozeliak still hasn’t made a final call.
If the Angels decide to go all-in on a full rebuild, both could be moved. The more likely outcome, though, is that one of them remains.
San Francisco will answer with Carson Whisenhunt, a 25-year-old lefty who has put together two encouraging outings in a row. He beat the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves in his last two starts, and he’s carried a 3.38 ERA in those games as he continues to settle into his second season.
The Giants don’t have much at stake either, but they’ve found a little momentum since the Angels came to town. Los Angeles helped snap San Francisco’s five-game losing streak, and the Giants followed that with back-to-back wins.
A big reason has been Rafeal Devers, who has hammered Angels pitching in both of those games. If the Angels want to leave with a win in the finale, keeping Devers in check has to be job one.
Offensively, the Angels haven’t gotten much from the names most likely to draw interest elsewhere. Zach Neto, Jo Adell and Jorge Soler have all been quiet at the plate. It’s another reminder that this roster could use a shake-up, and that the deadline may finally bring it.
If there’s one Angel worth watching for steadier production, it’s Nolan Schanuel. He’s been the club’s most reliable hitter lately, pushing his batting average up to .282 over the last couple of weeks while continuing to put the ball in play and use the whole field.
In Other News...
Angels May Finally Have A Real Opening To Fix Catcher Chaos
With the trade deadline approaching, the Angels are still looking for a young catcher, and that need has started to shape how rival front offices might view their roster. Chicagos pitching shortage makes the Cubs a logical fit in any broader discussion, especially with Los Angeles having starting arms such as Reid Detmers and Jose Soriano who could draw attention if the Angels decide to listen.
The wrinkle is that the Angels do not just need a stopgap behind the plate, they need a longer-term answer, which makes any deal more complicated than a simple swap of needs. The Cubs also have a catching prospect in Owen Ayers who has climbed quickly through their system and could be the kind of piece that changes the conversation, but for now this is still a framework, not a finished trade. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Face A Reid Detmers Decision That Could Define The Rebuild
Reid Detmers has become one of the more interesting names in the Angels long rebuild conversation, and for good reason. He is still under contract control, he has shown enough to keep rival clubs watching, and any decision involving him would say plenty about where the Angels think they are headed and how quickly they want to add real talent back into the system.
The Dodgers pitching situation only adds another layer to the discussion, because their need for arms makes them a natural team to monitor if the Angels ever decide to move a controllable starter. On the other side, the Angels are looking for the kind of prospect infusion that can change the shape of a roster, which is why this kind of cross-town possibility has lingered as one of the more intriguing ideas around the club. [Read more 🡒]