LA Angels: The perfect starting lineups for the 2021 season

Lineup Against Lefties

Last year, the Angels ranked 13th in the sport in wRC+ against southpaws with a 103 wRC+. That’s actually a pretty solid mark all things considered. This next season, that could improve with Jo Adell possibly taking a step forward, but it might be a wash considering Andrelton Simmons is likely to leave the team. Let’s take a look at the ideal lineup against lefties.

1. David Fletcher, 2B, R

David Fletcher will have to be the table-setter against southpaws for the Angels this season. Andrelton Simmons saw time as the leadoff hitter in 2020, but with his likely departure impending, it looks like the team will have to go in a different direction.

2. Mike Trout, CF, R

Nothing much needs to be said about Mike Trout. He belongs in the two-hole even if the Angels wind up mixing and matching him.

3. Anthony Rendon, 3B, R

Rendon will likely bat third for the Angels against lefties, the handedness he has made his career torching.

4. Justin Upton, LF, R

While this might be a very optimistic view of what Justin Upton could bring to the table, there Is no one else on the roster that stands out as a bonafide cleanup hitter.

5. Albert Pujols, DH, R

Albert Pujols might be near washed territory, but he can still supply professional at-bats against left-handed pitching.

6. Jared Walsh, 1B, L

Jared Walsh might be a left-handed hitter, but in his short time with the Angels, he actually held a higher batting average against lefties. He could be argued higher on the list, but wRC+ shows that he might be just ‘okay’ against lefties.

7. Jo Adell, LF, R

Jo Adell could easily find his way to a higher spot in the order by the end of the season, but this needs to be his starting point. Adell was, by many metrics, the worst hitter in baseball in 2020.

8. Max Stassi, C, R

Stassi is developing into a very solid offensive catcher. He isn’t exactly a reliable bat, but he could bat higher in the order in a pinch. He has some pop, but it is always a good thing to keep some pop at the bottom of the order.

9. Jose Iglesias, SS, R

Jose Iglesias is a defensive specialist who doesn’t project to have much thump in his bat, but he can hit for average and operate as a second leadoff man for the Angels.