The Los Angeles Angels have lost seven straight games and own the worst record in the American League heading into play Saturday.
The Los Angeles Angels have lost seven consecutive games and 11 of its last 12 games after blowing a 3-0 lead against the New York Mets in their series opener Friday night.
Los Angeles jumped out to a 2-0 lead on designated hitter Jorge Soler’s two-run home run in the first inning and picked up another run in the third inning on a throwing error by Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez, but that was it for the Angels offense.
The Mets’ pitching staff dominated the Angels the rest of the game, with right-hander Christian Scott tossing five innings of two-run ball on three hits with eight strikeouts and the bullpen throwing four perfect innings with six punchouts.
Setup man Luke Weaver and closer Devin Williams, who have been struggling to find their footing with the Mets, combined to strike out four and earned a hold and save, respectively.
Angels right-hander Walbert Urena was pitching well through five innings but exited the game prematurely after taking a line drive off the knee. He allowed one run on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts.
Lefty Reid Detmers will take the mound for the Angels against Mets right-hander Nolan McLean in a crucial game two.
Detmers is 1-2 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 36 strikeouts through six starts (33.2 innings) this season. He last pitched against the Kansas City Royals and allowed three runs on five hits and one walk with five strikeouts in five innings.
McLean will make his seventh start as well and has picked up where he left off last year. The rookie righty is 1-2 with a 2.55 ERA and 0.85 WHIP (fourth-best) in 35.1 innings and has struck out 45 hitters while walking just 10. McLean took the loss in his last outing after throwing five innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks with seven strikeouts against the Colorado Rockies.
The Angels offense has produced a lot early in games but fizzles out as the bullpen gives up their leads. As much as the team’s woes are centered around bullpen struggles, the offense needs to score at all times in the game.
Los Angeles certainly misses its longtime left fielder that was traded away to the Baltimore Orioles in the offseason, Taylor Ward, who has hit well for his new team. Ward only has one home run after hitting 36 last season but has 11 RBI and is slashing .294/.426/.429 (.854 OPS) in 32 games.
“Ward's strikeout rate has been almost cut in half, from 26.4% to 14.6%,” MLB.com’s Brian Murphy wrote Friday. “His nearly 10-point drop in chase rate ranks as the second-largest decrease. So, even without a lot of power, Ward has upped his wRC+ from 117 to 154 and is the main reason why the Orioles' wRC+ in left field is the best in the sport.”
Ward has also been walking at a 18.8 percent clip, transforming himself into a well-rounded offensive player. Not to mention Grayson Rodriguez, who came over in the trade from Baltimore, hasn’t pitched in the big leagues since 2024.
First pitch is at 6:38 p.m. PDT on ESPN Unlimited, MLB.TV and regional sports networks.