LA Angels: 5 Expectations for the Angels entering spring training

The bullpen emerges as one of the Angels bright spots

With the Angels bullpen getting used way too much during the regular season last year, resulting in poor performances, it could actually see progress being made. As long as the starting pitching holds and lets Maddon use the bullpen later in the game, then pitchers like Ty Buttrey, Keynan Middleton, Cam Bedrosian, and others will have a much easier time getting through opponents’ lineups.

The Angels’ current closer, Hansel Robles, should return to his same form and provide the team with numbers as good or better than last season. Robles finished with a 2.48 ERA, 23 saves, and pitched 72.2 innings. He also seemed to find himself in Anaheim and be comfortable as he went with the nickname “Caballo Blanco” which fans seemed to love.

One reliever that Angels fans should keep their eye one is Noe Ramirez. While his numbers aren’t too impressive from last season, a 3.99 ERA in 67.2 innings pitched. He could see those numbers improve with help from the starting rotation and the new pitching coach mentioned earlier. He could provide the Angels with holds in the bullpen helping the staff get to Robles in the ninth.