LA Angels: 3 discouraging signs from the Seattle Mariners series

The LA Angels disappointed again in their series against the Mariners this weekend.

The team lost two of three, and let the Mariners hang around in the playoff race.

We’ll play them again this upcoming weekend, and we better make adjustments from what didn’t work this time. Those areas were pretty glaring in the series.

No. 3 discouraging sign for the LA Angels from the Seattle Mariners series: Nobody’s hitting behind Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani is the American League MVP this season, and it’s a shame that the LA Angels can’t provide him any lineup protection.

Ohtani is hitting .258/.371/.595 (.966 OPS) and has clubbed 45 home runs and 98 RBI this season.

We can’t get him to produce as much as he could, however, because nobody’s hitting behind him.

We’ve had so many injuries up and down the roster this season that we’re not getting production after him in the order. Therefore, teams are walking him at a ridiculous rate. He’s literally getting the Barry Bonds treatment, but worse.

Teams don’t want to pitch to Ohtani because they know they won’t have to pitch to anyone else. It’s gotten so out of hand because the rest of the Angels’ lineup hasn’t been able to do literally anything about it.

Ohtani was three for seven this series with two triples and six walks (two intentional). That’s a great performance, but we could be getting even more production from him if his teammates could actually hit.