3 Angels players who stepped up big in April

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.