Are the LA Angels legitimate contenders for AL West

Angels bullpen has been very effective despite injuries.

Going into the season the Angels thought their bullpen would be a strength which they were right about. However, the pitchers they thought would be a big part of it would not be named Parker, Norris, Hernandez , and Petit.

The Angels bullpen had three closers in their bullpen going into the season and not one of them is on the active roster at the moment as Huston Street, Andrew Bailey, and Cam Bedrosian all have landed on the disabled list in the first month of the season.  So enter Blake Parker, David Hernandez, Yusmeiro Petit, and finally Bud Norris to fill in the gaps.

All the four have done has been impressive Parker has been solid as a set-up man and 6th and 7th inning man sporting a 2.82 ERA with 35 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.  Petit has also pitched very well as a long man and sometime set-up man going 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP.

Couple this with recently acquired David Hernandez who has been mostly used as a set-up man allowing only one run in his first 11 appearances. Overall Hernandez has pitched in 16 games for the Angels with a 4.26 ERA going 12.2 innings with 13 strikeouts .  Other than his last outing where Hernandez walked three batters, gave up two hits and three runs which raised Hernandez’s ERA from 3.00 to 4.26 and his WHIP from 1.00 to 1.34 .

They have all been a key to bridge the gap to closer Bud Norris who has been outstanding so far this season.  Norris has a 1-2 record with a 2.92 with a 1.01 WHIP and he has saved nine games in 11 chances.  Norris has struck out 32 batters in 24.2 innings and has been a God-send with all the Angels closers on the DL.

If the Angels bullpen continues to pitch well when Street, Bailey, and Bedrosian return will take a lot of pressure off the Angels starters who can be confident if they can go 5 to 6 innings they will have a chance to get a win.