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Angels takeaways: Joe Maddon isn’t worried about Shohei Ohtani, others at the plate

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The primary week of the common season revealed causes for each optimism and concern for the Angels, who misplaced three of 4 video games to the Houston Astros earlier than salvaging a six-game homestand with two wins over the Miami Marlins.

Because the Angels hit the street for a seven-game journey to Texas for video games in opposition to the Rangers and Astros, listed here are 5 takeaways from their 3-3 begin:

Beginning blocks

Angels pitcher Noah Syndergaard throws through the first inning in opposition to the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium on Saturday.

(Ashley Landis / Related Press)

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It was Mike Scioscia’s mantra for twenty years in Anaheim: “The heartbeat of a championship-caliber membership,” the previous supervisor typically stated, “is beginning pitching.”

One flip via a six-man rotation doesn’t a season make, however the early outcomes are encouraging, Shohei Ohtani, Reid Detmers, Noah Syndergaard, Jose Suarez, Michael Lorenzen and Patrick Sandoval combining to go 2-2 with a 1.91 ERA, giving up 16 hits, placing out 28 and strolling 12 in 28 1/3 innings.

The 2 huge winter acquisitions had been significantly efficient, Syndergaard throwing 5 1/3 scoreless, two-hit innings in Saturday night time’s 2-0 win over the Astros and Lorenzen giving up one run and two hits, placing out seven and strolling none, in six innings of Monday night time’s 6-2 win over the Marlins.

“Good, proper?” supervisor Joe Maddon stated of the rotation. “It seems superb. They give the impression of being sturdy. Syndergaard and Lorenzen had been actually sharp. The three lefties confirmed you what their promise seems like. I assumed they had been actually good, and so they’re going to proceed to get higher.”

Combined bag

Angels catcher Max Stassi and relief pitcher Raisel Iglesias congratulate each other.

Angels catcher Max Stassi, left, and aid pitcher Raisel Iglesias congratulate one another after the Angels defeated the Miami Marlins 6-2 on Monday at Angel Stadium.

(Mark J. Terrill / Related Press)

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A rebuilt bullpen was dinged for 18 earned runs and 23 hits, together with eight homers, in 25 2/3 innings for a 6.31 ERA, although a lot of the harm was carried out in Friday night time’s 13-6 loss to Houston.

The late-inning arms the Angels are counting on most — nearer Raisel Iglesias, left-hander Aaron Loup and right-hander Ryan Tepera — seemed dominant excluding Tepera’s tepid Angels debut.

Iglesias notched two saves in three video games and gave up a meaningless solo homer Monday night time. Loup struck out three and walked none in three innings of three video games and retired 9 of 10 batters, one reaching on an error.

Two of Tepera’s first 4 pitches had been hit for solo homers in Thursday night time’s season opener, however he retired 5 straight batters in Saturday night time’s win and struck out the facet — all with nasty sliders — within the eighth inning Monday night time.

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The again of the bullpen seems stout, however for the depth to enhance, center relievers corresponding to Archie Bradley (9.00 ERA in two video games), Mike Mayers (67.50 ERA in two video games) and Jimmy Herget (13.50 ERA in three video games) should pitch higher.

Rising pains

Angels’ Jo Adell reacts after placing out throughout a sport in opposition to the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium on Friday.

(Ashley Landis / Related Press)

It’s been a season of extremes already for outfielder Jo Adell, who struck out in seven of his first 9 at-bats, wanting helpless in opposition to sweeping breaking balls, earlier than crushing a 430-foot solo homer and an RBI double Monday night time.

Adell additionally bookended a pleasant house run-robbing catch of a Niko Goodrum drive Sunday with shaky performs on Thursday, when he misplayed a double in left discipline and made an errant throw house, and Tuesday, when a routine single skipped by him for an error in proper discipline that resulted in a run scored.

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The Angels would gladly take one thing in between from Adell — dependable, if not spectacular, protection on the corners and extra constant contact on the plate.

“He’s a particularly sturdy, highly effective athlete who can hit plenty of house runs, and he has an excellent technical swing,” Maddon stated. “He’s simply younger. He’s studying lay off sure pitches and the way to not miss the one which he likes.”

Refresh button

Angels middle fielder Mike Trout walks on the sector to heat up earlier than a sport in opposition to the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium on Friday.

(Ashley Landis / Related Press)

Maddon designed his lineup so Ohtani would have most safety, batting the reigning American League most beneficial participant within the leadoff spot, with three-time AL MVP Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon behind him.

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To date, not so good. Ohtani, who hit .257 with 46 homers and 100 RBIs in 2021, went 4 for 25 (.160) with no homers, one double, eight strikeouts and no walks within the first six video games and may very well be seen within the dugout performing CPR — correct two-hand compressions and all — on the barrel of his bat Monday night time.

Trout, slowed by a abdomen bug, went three for 15 (.200) with a homer and a double, and Rendon went two for 17 (.118) with a homer and no doubles. The trio mixed to hit .158 (9 for 57) with two homers, two doubles and three RBI.

“He seems advantageous to me,” Maddon stated of Rendon. “He seems like actually good. Once more, I watch issues like his steadiness and the bat pace, and he’ll begin squaring them up. He’s gonna get actually scorching. We’ve seen it earlier than. Mikey’s actual shut too. And Ohtani, I’m not nervous about in any respect.”

Accidents mount

The largest concern amongst groups getting into a lockout-shortened, 3 ½-week spring coaching in early March was {that a} condensed camp and a faster ramp-up to the season would go away each pitchers and place gamers extra prone to accidents.

The Angels have carried out little to dispel these fears. Outfielder Taylor Ward opened the season on the 10-day injured listing due to a left groin pressure however is predicted to be activated for Saturday’s sport in opposition to the Rangers.

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Reliever Jose Quijada (proper indirect pressure) went on the IL on Saturday and was joined by shortstop David Fletcher (left hip pressure) on Tuesday.

Griffin Canning, who was anticipated to contend for a rotation spot, is on the 60-day IL due to a stress response in his decrease again. The best-hander is predicted to start throwing off a mound this week however can’t be activated till early June.

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