3 Angels players who stepped up big in April

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Oakland Athletics v Los Angeles Angels / Meg Oliphant/GettyImages
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The Los Angeles Angels had some good moments, some bad moments, and some ugly moments in the month of April. The team currently sits at 15-14. Should they be better? Absolutely. Fortunately, it is a long season, and if the Angels can just stop getting out of their own way, this team can be good.

While the Angels have cost themselves multiple games due to mental errors and bone-headed managerial decisions, there're also players who performed poorly and really need to step up in May.

Looking at this from a glass-half-full perspective, the Angels are indeed above .500. A place they haven't finished a season at since 2015. They'd be just one game outside of the playoff picture if the season ended today. A big reason the Angels have managed to stay afloat despite those underperforming players, mental errors, and managerial issues is because of these three players.

1) LA Angels reliever Carlos Estevez has been dynamite late in games

The bullpen has been an issue at times this season for the Angels. Aaron Loup continues to prove he shouldn't be anywhere near a close game. Jose Quijada continues to be great or awful with no in-between. Jimmy Herget was so bad to the point he was sent down to the minors after being the Angels best reliever last season.

With relievers you really never know what you're going to get. When the Halos signed Loup and Ryan Tepera last season, they expected two elite reievers. They certainly gave them elite-level money. Both of these veterans have been wildly disappointing for the Angels, and have proven to be nothing more than middle relievers at best.

When the Angels signed Carlos Estevez I felt like it was a good move at the time as his numbers were always good outside of Colorado and I felt that his stuff would play up in Anaheim. While it was a gamble to make Estevez the big reliever signing, it's worked wonders so far.

After a brutal Spring Training, Estevez has been money for Phil Nevin late in games. He's allowed three runs (two earned) in 13 appearances and 13.2 innings of work. He has six saves and has tacked on two holds as well, as Nevin uses Estevez in both the eighth and ninth inning depending on matchups.

The right-hander has allowed runs in just two of his 13 appearances this season and has a 1.32 ERA. His strikeouts are way up from where they were each of his last two seasons in Colorado, and he looks primed for a career year in 2023.

2) LA Angels reliever Matt Moore has provided stability in any spot he's used

While Estevez has the defined role of being the back-end right-handed reliever, Matt Moore has been used in virtually any spot imagineable throughout the first month of the season.

Moore, like Estevez, was signed this past offseason and so far has shown that his breakout 2022 campaign was not a fluke. Moore and Estevez are the only two relievers I really trust out of this bullpen which tells you the work that has to be done, but also tells you how great those two have been.

Moore has been used in the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth innings this season. He's been used when the Angels are behind or ahead. He's been used for three outs or even six outs on one occasion. No matter what spot he's put in, Moore continues to be lights out for the Halos.

Like Estevez, Moore has made 13 appearances. He's also allowed three runs (two earned) over his 14.1 innings of work. He has a 1.26 ERA so far.

The Angels bullpen has been below average to bad late in games. Moore has shown an ability to be used in virtually any spot imagineable and get the job done. I have no clue where the Angels would be if they didn't sign him late in the offseason with how the rest of the bullpen has pitched.

3) LA Angels outfielder Hunter Renfroe has been the best run producer on the team

If there's one thing everyone knows about the Angels, it's that they have the superstar talent. Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout are arguably the two best baseball players on planet earth. They're certainly two of the best hitters in the game today. In Trout's case, one of the best ever.

Even with those two on the team, guess who's leading it in RBI? Hint, it's a new guy. It's Hunter Renfroe.

The veteran outfielder not only leads the team with his 20 RBI, but he's tied with Trout and Ohtani for the team lead in home runs with seven. Part of the reason Renfroe is where he is on the team leaderboards is because Trout and Ohtani haven't exactly hit their strides yet, but Renfroe has also been quite good for the Halos.

The Angels offense has been maddeningly inconsistent to start the year. This is a team that should be among the league leaders in runs scored. They're currently eighth which isn't bad, but they've also fattened up on teams like the Athletics and Royals. They haven't hit enough against quality pitching.

April has statistically been Renfroe's worst month in his career. His .733 OPS in the colder weather is the lowest of any month, and his .228 average is his second-worst mark. Renfroe's best month has historically been May, so maybe he'll continue to build off of his strong start to this season.

While the rest of the offense has for the most part failed to hold up their end of the bargain, Renfroe has been the one consistent piece for this team.

Next. 3 players the Angels organization failed or mishandled. dark

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