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

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Jaime Barria, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

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.

Shohei Ohtani, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 LA Angels prediction for the remainder of the 2021 season: Shohei Ohtani will hit 50 home run mark

Shohei Ohtani has been struggling a little bit for the LA Angels lately.

He hasn’t hit a home run in 12 games (all stats in this article are entering the Blue Jays doubleheader). He still leads the league with 37 home runs, so it’s not the biggest deal.

That being said, he certainly hasn’t been the same Ohtani we’re used to in these last couple of weeks.

He’ll be alright, though. We’ve got 50 games left, and in those 50 games, he’ll get that home run total up to 50. He won’t struggle like this forever. The best players in this game slump every year.

I know Ohtani will be fine because I know his head’s on straight. This is the same guy who hasn’t had any problems on the mound, and played in the outfield during the Freeway Series. He’s still out there playing hard and doing a lot of things the right way.

It’s only his offense that hasn’t been up to speed. He’ll figure out that aspect of the game shortly.

Mike Trout, LA Angels. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 1 LA Angels prediction for the remainder of the 2021 season: They will finish with a winning record

I really can’t predict that the LA Angels will make the playoffs.

I absolutely think that they have a shot if Trout can come back in this next week and a half or so, but I haven’t heard anything other than it’s looking like he won’t be back until the end of the month.

If that ends up happening, I think they go 27-23 from here on out. That’s not bad considering the amount of injuries they’ve dealt with this year, but it’s likely not playoff-worthy.

That would result in an 83-79 season. There are too many good AL teams competing for the two wild card spots in order for the Halos to make the playoffs with that record.

So if Trout doesn’t come back soon, I still see the Angels improving off of last year and having an over .500 record. I don’t, however, see us making enough progress to end up in the postseason if Trout isn’t back soon.

Next. 3 discouraging signs from the Freeway Series

We have a tough schedule moving forward in a tough division. A lot just hasn’t gone our way this season.

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