ANAHEIM — The Angels’ rotation, which has been a problem for most of the past few years, has given them reason for hope this year.
Angels starters had a 3.73 ERA coming into Wednesday’s outing from Opening Day starter José Soriano. That ranked 13th in the majors.
Last season, the Angels’ starters had a 4.91 ERA, which ranked 28th.
“I love it,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “I feel like every game we’re pitching into the sixth or seventh. I think they’re feeding off each other. We see it, right? If one guy has a good one, they all want to up each other. They have that friendly team competition of ‘I want to try to be better than the other person,’ and I think that brings out the best in all of us.”
Soriano (0.28 ERA heading into Wednesday) has obviously been the star, but Reid Detmers (4.08) and Jack Kochanowicz (3.10) have also pitched well. Yusei Kikuchi (5.63) struggled for his first four starts, but he changed his arm angle before his last outing and pitched six scoreless innings, with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Walbert Ureña, who gave up two runs in six innings in his first big league start, has earned another shot. He’ll start again Saturday in Kansas City.
The Angels have had a starter pitch at least five innings while allowing one or no runs in 11 of their first 25 games. They are tied for the third-most such games in the majors, behind only the Detroit Tigers (13) and Kansas City Royals (12).
Suzuki said some of the success is because of pitching coach Mike Maddux, assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott and bullpen coach Dom Chiti.
“It’s a credit to Maddux and his pitching staff, with Darryl and Dom,” Suzuki said. “Those guys tirelessly working to see how we can get these guys better. It’s been a pleasure to watch, to finally be on Maddux’s side and see him do his magic. He’s been great to be around.”
The pitching coaches have not been as successful with the bullpen, though. Before Wednesday’s game, Angels relievers had a 4.65 ERA, which ranked 22nd.
DH DAY FOR TROUT
Mike Trout was in the lineup at designated hitter Wednesday for just the third time this season. Trout, 34, has been the starting center fielder in 22 of the Angels’ 26 games. He also missed one game after he was hit by a pitch.
Last season, Trout did not play a single game in the outfield after hurting his knee in late April.
The only other player 34 or older to start in center field this season is Mike Yastrzemski, who started one game in center for the Atlanta Braves.
“I have so much respect for Mike, I played with Mike,” Suzuki said. “I just told him, ‘Hey, you tell me what you need. I trust you. Just be honest with me and if you need a day here and there (or) you need more, some days in a row, it’s fine. But if you don’t say anything, come to the field and expect your name in center field.’
“You try to keep it simple like that. There’s no mystery, there’s no secret or anything. Mike’s here to play. He wants to play. He comes to the field every day wanting to play and that’s what we’re going to do.”
NOTES
Right-hander Kirby Yates (left knee inflammation) was scheduled to pitch Wednesday and Friday nights for Triple-A Salt Lake. They would be his second and third minor-league games. The Angels have said Yates will be back as soon as he feels ready. …
Right-hander Ben Joyce (shoulder surgery) is scheduled to face hitters for the third time in the next couple days. There is no timetable for when Joyce will begin a minor-league rehab assignment. …
A day after Nolan Schanuel slid head-first into first on the final out of the game, Suzuki said he was OK with the decision to go in that way instead of staying on his feet. “I know guys have an opinion of running through the base is faster than diving, but for me your instincts kick in and he felt like diving was going to give him a better shot and that’s what he did, and I’m 100% OK with that,” Suzuki said. “Whether he could have been faster, now we don’t know. But I think the intent, the will to be safe on that play, to help the team was there. And that’s really what matters for me.” …
Including the first two games in Kansas City, the Angels will face four consecutive left-handed starters. That means limited playing time for left fielder Josh Lowe and third baseman Yoán Moncada, and an extra opportunity for outfielder Bryce Teodosio and infielder Oswald Peraza. Second baseman Adam Frazier and Schanuel are also left-handed hitters, but they have more balanced splits than Lowe and Moncada.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Yusei Kikuchi, 0-2, 5.63) at Royals (LHP Noah Cameron, 1-1, 5.40), 4:40 p.m. PT Friday, FanDuel Sports Network, 830 AM