LA Angels Week Two Power Rankings

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The LA Angels are off to one of their best starts ever in 2018. They have won each of their first three series. They have called upon a lot of players, and now we rank the top ten Halos so far this season.

As usual, this list is a list of the top ten LA Angels on the season. There is a recent bias, especially early on in the season, but their impact over the entire year is taken into account.

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Falling Out: Both Kole Calhoun (9) and Matt Shoemaker (10) fell out of the rankings this week. Calhoun hit .167 with eight strikeouts and no extra base hits. Shoemaker found himself on the disabled list with a forearm strain. It is looking similar to last year’s injury, which does not bode well for Shoemaker and the Angels.

Honorable Mentions: Albert Pujols and Luke Bard

Albert Pujols has shown signs of life over the past week. While he didn’t hit a home run this week, he did bat .304 with a double and an RBI. His slugging percentage has dipped, but seeing him put the bat on the ball has been a good sign for the veteran. His power numbers will come, and as long as he keeps making contact we could be seeing a bounce back year for The Machine.

After seeing no action in the first series this season, Luke Bard introduced himself to the Angels this week. In four games where he pitched a total of 6.1 innings, He allowed two hits over his four appearances, and allowed only one run for a 1.42 ERA to start his MLB career. The only mark on his game has been his walk total, as he has given five hitters a free base. If he can cut down on his walks, he could potentially be this season’s breakout in the bullpen.

ANAHEIM, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: Pitcher Blake Wood /

10.) Mike Trout (Last week: 4)

Mike Trout barely making the power rankings is not something I thought would be happening this season. However, we just saw Trout go through one of his worst weeks as a big leaguer. He went just 3-21 (.143) with seven strikeouts. Trout probably would not have made the rankings if not for his performance on Sunday, where he went 2-3 with a walk, home run, and a stolen base. It was a positive ending for a poor week, and Trout now travels to Texas where he has a career .341 average with 11 home runs.

9.) Zack Cozart (1)

If not for his phenomenal first week, Zack Cozart would have missed these rankings completely. His batting average has fallen to .250 after a week in which he only collected four hits (.160). However, he did slug one home run during his slump. He also has been putting the ball in play, as he only struck out once this week. It may have been a week of poor luck for Cozart, but either way he did not produce. He is still showing his versatility in the field, as he played second base all week as Ian Kinsler continues to rehab from a groin and abductors injury.

8.) Garrett Richards (Not Ranked)

In his first start, Garrett Richards did not look the ace the Halos needed him to be. The only real positive from the start was that he made it out healthy. However, Richards showed his true potential in his second start of 2018. He was far from perfect, but he only allowed two earned runs over his 5.2 innings. Both runs came on a first inning home run, but Richards was lights out after that. That two run shot was the only run Richards and the bullpen allowed on the night. He also posted 9 strikeouts to four walks. That is not a great ratio but fans saw signs of what Richards can become this season.

7.) Jose Alvarez (NR)

Jose Alvarez is a surprise on the list. He has gone relatively unmentioned so far this year. However, that is not always a bad thing, especially in Alvarez’s case. He is off to a phenomenal start this season, as he has yet to allow a run so far in 2018. In 4.1 innings of work in five appearances, Alvarez has only allowed two hits. Over the past week, where he made three appearances, he allowed no hits. He has four strikeouts and two walks thus far.

The reason Alvarez is ranked so high on this list is because he has fulfilled his role in the bullpen to perfection so far this year. He is the Halos left-handed specialist, and has yet to allow a hit to a left-handed batter so far this year. All four of his strikeouts have also come against lefties, and he has only walked one. Right-handed batters have had a little more success, cumulatively going 2-7 with a double and a walk against Alvarez thus far. He has been one of the best relievers for the Angels so far, and would be a key piece for any potential postseason run.

6.) Blake Wood (7)

Another week, another four games of perfect pitching from Blake Wood. He has yet to allow a run this season, and only allowed one hit and two walks this week. He has been extremely effective at getting outs, and trusting his defense to do so in the process. If he continues performing at such a high level, he could join the upper echelon of the Halos bullpen in short time.

5.) Tyler Skaggs (3)

While everyone expected Tyler Skaggs to be the third or fourth best pitcher for the Halos this year, he is slowly showing that he has ace potential. After pitching 6.1 scoreless innings in his first start of the season, he followed that up with 4.2 innings of good work, where he allowed two runs. This start was not phenomenal by any means, but it showed a different side of Skaggs. While he dominated in his first start with his variety of pitches, he did not have all of them working in his second start. Nevertheless, that did not stop Skaggs from working through a tough start and minimizing the damage.

Aces don’t always have the best stuff every time they take the mound. However, the best pitchers in the league always find a way to get through the day, batter by batter. We saw that with Skaggs in his last start, as he was not locating his pitches to his best potential. It was huge for Skaggs to get through that game with only two earned runs, as we have seen him collapse in games like that earlier in his career. The Tyler Skaggs breakout hype is real, and he will look to prove it even more this week in Texas.

4.) Justin Upton (NR)

Justin Upton jumps this high onto the list because of the success he had at the plate after a poor first week of the season. He has brought his average up to .282, while also sending three home runs out of the park. While Mike Trout and Zack Cozart struggled at the plate this past week, Upton was able to drive in seven runs and keep the innings alive for the lower part of the order.

When he is not hitting home runs, he is hitting doubles as he tallied two of those this week. That makes five of his seven hits last week extra base hits. Upton looked uncomfortable at the plate in the opening series against Oakland, which may be from the shortened Spring Training this year. However, it appears any kinks in his swing or stance have been worked out, and Upton is back to the slugger that the Halos extended this offseason while free agents withered away until below-market value deals had to be accepted in order for them to play.

Upton, Trout, and Cozart have all yet to playing at their highest levels so far. However, the Angels offense is still producing runs. When all three of them are clicking, it will mean trouble for opposing pitchers.

ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 06: Andrelton Simmons /

3.) Andrelton Simmons (2)

Andrelton Simmons came to the Angels as a career .256/.304/.356 hitter. Since his arrival, he has morphed into one of the best shortstops in the game on both offense and defense. As an Angels player, he has slashed .283/.329/.398. While they are not monumental jumps, he has improved his offensive game consistently each year. So far this season, he has a .357 average, good enough for seventh in the MLB. It would be insane for him to keep up this pace, but it would not surprise me if he was able to hover over .300 this season after hitting .290 over the first half of the season in 2017.

The past week, Simmons has hit .308 with two doubles. He has yet to hit his first home run of the season, something he did 14 times in 2017, but has been the Angels most consistent everyday player at the plate. He is currently tied for second on the team in both RBI’s and runs scored, with seven apiece. He does only have one walk on the season, so his discipline at the plate does need some improvements. However, Simmons has found success whether at home or on the road, and whether he is facing a lefty or righty. Look for him to remain the model of consistency for the Halos this year.

OAKLAND, CA – APRIL 01: Keynan Middleton /

2.) Keynan Middleton (5)

Last year, Keynan Middleton had a fiery rookie season for the Halos. He started hot, but fell into a slump over the second half of the season. However, he finished the season with 11 straight shutout appearances. Now, he has yet to allow a run in 2018, where he has pitched six innings over five appearances. Middleton has the command and confidence necessary for him to succeed in this league, and that is starting to pay dividends already.

Middleton appears to be Mike Scioscia‘s closer of preference at this point in the season. While he has only recorded one save so far, he has been the ninth inning guy multiple times. Him not recording multiple saves is a credit to the Halos leading by more than three runs at the end of games.

Middleton has pitched high intensity innings, something he struggled with last year. He has struck out four batters while walking two, which is not a great ratio but it both walks have been on close calls. Another part of Middleton’s game this year that is impressive is that he has yet to allow a batter to take him deep. That is something he struggled with last year, allowing 11 home runs.

Middleton is young, confident, and has taken over as the closer for this team.

1.) Shohei Ohtani (6)

Who else at number one? Three straight games with home runs. A slash line of .389/.421/.889. Shohei Ohtani has been everything that Angels fans have hoped for. The American League player of the week has arguably been the best player not only for the Angels this year, but in all of baseball. He has shown his discipline at the plate, and a new toe tap has helped him nail down his timing and become a true force at the plate (just ask Cy Young winner Corey Kluber).

Next: Ohtani Flirts With Perfection

On the mound, Ohtani has been brilliant. He has made one bad pitch all year, and all three of his earned runs came off of it. On Sunday, he took a perfect game into the seventh inning of his home debut. 18 strikeouts over his first two starts is ridiculous, and he is making the doubters fade away day by day. Why can’t someone hit and pitch at the same level? For Ohtani, there is no reason to doubt him other than what he is trying to accomplish has never been done, in the history of baseball.

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