HOUSTON — Nearly five months ago, an Angels game in the first weekend of the season turned on a missed ball-strike call that catcher Logan O’Hoppe failed to challenge.
Back in Houston, it happened again on Wednesday night, this time with Mike Trout neglecting to challenge a couple of pitches while he was hitting.
It’s been a rough year everywhere for the Angels, and their use of the ABS system has been no exception.
Angels hitters rank 25th in the majors in success rate on challenges. They are at 44%, which is below the 49% average across the board. The catchers have done better, ranking eighth with a 62% success rate, better than the 58% average.
“It’s an ongoing conversation,” Manager Kurt Suzuki said on Thursday. “Sometimes we like them not to challenge. We also tell them, if you’re 100%, go ahead and challenge it. That being said, we’re learning a lot as the season goes on, seeing the success rates of some guys. We remind them everyday, in important situations, go ahead and fire it. If it’s not, sometimes you might have to bite the bullet.”
As evident by both the O’Hoppe and Trout situations, effective use of the ABS can’t be measured simply by success rate. There are obviously more critical moments in the game, when it’s better to challenge and be wrong than to keep it in your pocket.
Trout has only challenged 10 pitches all season, winning six of them. According to MLB figures, he’s challenged only 10% of the pitches that were “reasonable” to challenge. The major league average is 22%. As a team, the Angels are right at 22%.
Trout explained after Wednesday’s game that he’s still “learning” the system. He also acknowledged that he hasn’t been seeing the ball well lately, which is why he didn’t want to take a chance in that spot.
Nolan Schanuel has challenged 36 times, winning 56% of them. Zach Neto has challenged 18 times, winning 50%.
NATERA TO IL
The Angels placed left-hander Samy Natera Jr. on the injured list because of back spasms.
Natera first felt something in his back while warming up on Saturday. The Angels gave it a few days before making the roster move.
Suzuki said he’s not anticipating Natera to be out long, but they won’t know until he tries to throw from the mound again. Natera returned to Anaheim.
“We just felt like the best thing to do was let him recover and not try to rush,” Suzuki said. “It was more just to be proactive and take care of it.”
Natera has become a key member of the Angels’ bullpen in his first three months in the majors. He has a 2.00 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 27 innings.
The Angels called up left-hander Sammy Peralta to take Natera’s roster spot.
KIKUCHI’S TURN?
The Angels have not listed a starter for Sunday against the Texas Rangers. The candidates are left-hander Yusei Kikuchi or right-hander George Klassen.
Kikuchi would be making his first start since April, after missing most of the season rehabbing a shoulder injury. The Angels are also debating going with a six-man rotation after Kikuchi returns.
NOTES
Designated hitter Moisés Ballesteros brought an 0-for-15 slump into Thursday night’s game. Ballesteros has hit .120 with a .320 OPS since the Angels acquired him at the trade deadline earlier this month. In his first week with the Angels, Ballesteros was hitting the ball better than the results. Lately, though, he’s been making more soft outs. “He’s probably pressing a little bit,” Suzuki said. “Obviously, new team, maybe trying to do too much.” …
Left-hander Reid Detmers, who starts on Friday at Texas, has a 1.83 ERA in his six starts since the All-Star break, with 44 strikeouts and eight walks in 34⅓ innings.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Reid Detmers, 4-8, 3.78 ERA) at Rangers (LHP MacKenzie Gore, 7-9, 4.45 ERA), Friday, 5:15 p.m. PT, Apple TV, 830 AM