LA Angels: 3 X Factor Offensive Players For Remainder Of 2021 Season

The LA Angels entered Thursday’s contest a game under .500.

Our chances for the playoffs aren’t looking very good with Mike Trout healing very slowly.

If the Angels really want to make a run at this thing during these last seven weeks or so, they’ll need three x factors in particular to step up on offense. They’re supposed to be an offensive team, and need to get back to that identity.

No. 3 LA Angels X Factor Offensive Player for Remainder of 2021 Season: Jose Iglesias

Jose Iglesias‘ bat could be better for the LA Angels. After a great season last year where Iglesias hit .373/.400/.556 with a .956 OPS, the expectations for him this year were high.

Overall, that hasn’t been the case for Iglesias so far this year. He’s hitting .272/.305/.392 this season, which is obviously quite the downgrade.

I’m worried that Iglesias isn’t seeing the ball well. His strikeout percentage (15%) is the highest it’s been since 2013, and he’s only walking 3.8% of the time.

I don’t know exactly what Iglesias needs. Maybe he needs a mental reset, or maybe it actually is mechanical. There have been stretches of this season where Iglesias has looked good and even been a little underrated.

I still like what Iglesias does on defense. I get that 13 errors stinks, but think about how many crazy plays he has made this season. The eye test proves that he’s better than that error count.

I want to see a strong finish offensively, though, and know that he can do it. He did it just last year.

No. 1 LA Angels X Factor Offensive Player for Remainder of 2021 Season: Justin Upton

Justin Upton hasn’t been the same for the LA Angels since his injury.

Before his injury, he was having a very hot stretch at the plate; hitting six home runs in 24 games to go along with a line of .319/.421/.604. He had 14 RBI in that stretch as a leadoff hitter.

Since, he’s been disappointing. He’s hit .153/.231/.237 with only one homer and four RBI.

He’s so much better than that, and clearly the injury has affected him. He had a nice start in getting back to that on Tuesday, when he had two hits. He drove in a run, and scored a run as well.

Upton is more than capable of getting hot again, and as we learned earlier this season; when Upton gets hot, he stays hot.

All three of these guys need to come alive if the Halos want to compete this season. It’s going to be an uphill battle in terms of coming around to make the playoffs, but if these three play to their potential, it can get done.