Freeway Series 2020: Five things to watch for when Angels meet Dodgers

Freeway Series 2020 – This will be a make or break weekend for the Angels

At 7-12, the Angels are hardly off to the start they wish to begin the 2020 season. After Wednesday’s loss to the Athletics, Anaheim is now six games behind in the American League West. Additionally, they are two games behind the second-place Rangers for the division’s other playoff spot.

While those aren’t insurmountable odds, they still create a sense of urgency for a team that has seemingly been playing without one thus far. The first few weeks represented a unique opportunity for the Halos to take advantage of the Astros injuries and potentially put themselves into the playoff hunt. Instead, they sit just a half-game out of last place.

This weekend’s series with the Dodgers is the first in an 18-game stretch for the Angels, the longest streak of games they’ll play without a day off this season. Additionally, this run will take the team into the MLB trade deadline, meaning it is time for the Angels to determine if they are going to contend or not.

While the Angels offense can undoubtedly hang with the Dodgers, the weight will fall on the pitching staff to set the tone and get the team out of their funk. That may be a tall order for the staff as it exists today, but it what they have to work with and the team has to hope for some overachieving from someone else not named Dylan Bundy.

A strong series, and preferably a sweep against the Dodgers will set the team out on that journey on the right foot. In addition to a statement series against the A’s, it will also put the rest of the league on notice that this will be a dangerous team down the stretch.