LA Angels: 3 predictions for the remainder of the 2021 season

The LA Angels headed into their double-header on Tuesday as a .500 team.

They’ve been very up-and-down all year, and it’s actually their 21st time heading back to a .500 record. A lot has happened this year. The injury bug has been merciless, and Mickey Callaway set us up for failure.

While it isn’t what we want, it hasn’t been all too bad considering the tough situations we’ve been in. I can’t guarantee how the rest of the year is going to go, as this season has already confused me enough. I can, however, make a few predictions for these last seven or so weeks of this wild ride.

No. 3 LA Angels prediction for the remainder of the 2021 season: Jaime Barria will finish with a 3.60 or better ERA

Jaime Barria currently has a 4.21 ERA for the LA Angels. Overall this year, he hasn’t been as good as he was last year, where he posted a 3.62 ERA.

I’m confident that he’ll improve on that 3.62 ERA by the end of this season. That’s because ever since he’s had the chance to start, he’s been lights out.

His last three outings have all been starts, and he’s given up just five earned runs in 19.2 IP. Even in his previous outing in long relief, he went four innings without giving up a run, and only allowed one hit and walked just one.

When he’s had the chance to pitch several innings in one contest, he’s exceled. There’s no way Joe Maddon hasn’t noticed, and there’s no way Barria doesn’t continue to build off of this momentum.