Angels hitters ability to hit with runners in scoring position should give fans hope for 2027

The Los Angeles Angels still have a way to go before they will be near World Series contention. They may not be as far away from their first playoff berth in over ten years as fans may think, though.

Despite closing in on a 100-loss season, there have been signs that should create some optimism for Angels fans for the 2027 season. The recent change in pitching coaches has really helped the pitching staff; there are young players who have provided a spark to the offense, and the Angels have had multiple players who have been surprisingly good with runners in scoring position.

That last one should be a sticking point for Angels fans. Six current Halos batters have more than 50 at-bats and a WRC+ above 100 with runners in scoring position this season. The group is led by Zach Neto and Wade Meckler, who each have a WRC+ above 150. Neto is hitting .327 with a .922 OPS in that scenario. The other Angels are Mike Trout, Jose Siri, Denzer Guzman, and Vaughn Grissom.

The Angels already have players in place to make next season more successful

All six of those hitters should be a part of the Angels' plans next season. While some may not be everyday players and could find themselves in a platoon or bench role, they've all shown that when put in those key situations, they will produce.

Some fans may not realise that they have good players with runners in scoring position because the overall team numbers are low. As a team, L.A. has a 93 WRC+ with runners in scoring position, the fourth-worst in MLB this season, and their .690 OPS is the third-lowest. That is being heavily weighed down by a few poor players who likely won't be on the roster next season, like Oswald Peraza with his -19 WRC+ and Josh Lowe with his 13 WRC+.

Driving in runners in scoring position is key to being successful. Having players who can do so on a regular basis is what can flip a close loss into a win or give a team extra breathing room. While the players listed may not be regulars, they all should have an impact on the team next season.

The hope is that, with new Stan Kroenke coming in, things will finally start to look better next season. Having these players around will only help the Angels finally start their march back towards the top of the mountain.

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