LA Angels: 3 overperforming pitchers in the first half

The LA Angels are halfway through their season now, and entered Independence Day at 41-41.

Honestly, if somebody would have told me that the Halos would be 41-41 by the Fourth of July with Mike Trout out since mid-May, Mickey Callaway fired for character issues, Justin Upton returning to prime form just to get hurt in June, and random injuries popping up for Rendon and Stassi, I would have thought you were crazy.

Yet, here we are, playing .500 baseball and we’re going to get Trout back in a couple of weeks. Without a few certain overperforming pitchers, we wouldn’t be in this position. We wouldn’t be competing like this, and the season would have been over long ago.

No. 1 LA Angels pitcher who overperformed in the first half: Jose Suarez

Jose Suarez hasn’t had a ton of opportunities for the LA Angels this season, but he has most certainly shined in those opportunities.

In nine relief appearances, Suarez has a 1.98 ERA. That’s the best ERA on the Angels, and it isn’t even close.

Also, the guy throws strikes. He’s walked just 2.96 batters per nine innings this year, placing fourth on the team among pitchers who have pitched at least nine times this year.

Guys aren’t getting hits off of him, as the batting average against Suarez is a low .210. He’s doing this while only getting paid a base salary of $570,500.

He wasn’t supposed to be this good, especially after a down couple of years. He’s lived up to his potential so far this year.