Dream Angels starting rotation for the 2023 season

For years, the downfall of this Los Angeles Angels team has been pitching. The Angels have been subpar offensively as well outside of players like Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, but the pitching has always been the Achilles heel.

The Angels tried to improve their staff by signing guys like Michael Lorenzen and Noah Syndergaard to one-year deals, and they did improve, but it was mainly due to their young guys. Patrick Sandoval, Reid Detmers, and Jose Suarez were bright spots for the Halos, especially in the second half.

The Angels should focus on pitching if they want to make a playoff push. This dream Angels rotation likely won't be what the Angels roster but it's not completely impossible to envision either.

Dream LA Angels starting rotation ace: Shohei Ohtani

Shohei Ohtani had his best pitching season in 2022. The right-hander went 15-9 with a 2.28 ERA in 28 starts. For some reason, he wasn't a Cy Young finalist.

Ohtani qualified for the ERA title for the first time, pitching 166 innings. He led the AL in K/9 at 11.9/9 while walking 2.4/9 and allowing 0.8 HR/9.

When Ohtani first came up, control was his one flaw on the bump. He's always had electric stuff with the ability to strike anybody out. He walked 3.6 batters per nine in his first three seasons on the mound which covered 35 starts. That number reduced by almost a full walk which is a drastic improvement.

Ohtani finally stayed healthy for a full season on the mound and it's very possible we see even bigger improvement from Shohei in 2023.

With the Angels saying Ohtani is here to stay until Opening Day at least, he should be taking the ball for the opener in Oakland.

Dream LA Angels starting rotation #2 starter: Chris Bassitt

This free agency class has some big names like Jacob deGrom, Carlos Rodon, and Justin Verlander. All three studs come with massive red flags and likely wouldn't want to come to Anaheim anyway.

For the second spot in the rotation, I think the Angels need someone who they can rely on to give them a consistent outing every time out and give them a chance to win. Chris Bassitt is the perfect pitcher for this role.

Angels fans should know Bassitt well from his years in Oakland. He was traded to the Mets this past season and proved that the big stage didn't deter his performance in the slightest.

Bassitt went 15-9 with a 3.42 ERA in his 30 starts. He went six or more innings in 23 of his 30 starts and was one out shy twice. He went less than five just four times. Bassitt allowed three runs or fewer in all but eight of his starts. He allowed more than four runs just four times.

That kind of consistency is something the Angels lack. Had it not been for a comebacker to his face or a stint on the COVID IL, Bassitt wouldn't have missed a start in the past two seasons.

I think this young staff has good potential, but Bassitt being the reliable veteran he is would be the perfect number two starter in this staff.

Dream LA Angels starting rotation #3 starter: Patrick Sandoval

For most of the season, Patrick Sandoval was a guy who allowed a ton of baserunners but constantly avoided the big inning. He allowed just eight home runs in 148.2 innings pitched which helped in a big way.

Simply put, Sandoval allowed too many baserunners. He walked 3.6 batters per nine which is a mark that is way too high. He had five games where he walked four batters. He had just seven games with fewer than two walks allowed.

While giving batters free passes is a bad thing, not being able to consistently throw strikes makes a pitch count spike. Sandoval completed six innings just 11 times in his 27 starts. For a starter who had a 2.91 ERA, that's not good enough.

I expect Sandoval to improve with his command and when he does, he'll be a very good pitcher.

Sandoval is a little raw in that aspect but his ability to limit the longball while posting a 138 ERA+ gives me very high hopes for him in 2023.

The 26 year old should be one of the better third starters in the game if he improves his command.

Dream LA Angels starting rotation #4 starter: Kodai Senga

One of the best pitchers on the market is Kodai Senga. The Japanese right-hander just filed for free agency and should have a ton of suitors.

Senga went 11-6 with a 1.89 ERA in Japan this past season. He struck out 9.7 batters per nine while allowing just seven home runs in 148 innings pitched (0.4 HR/9).

Senga has elite stuff, headlined by a fastball that can reach triple digits and a sharp slider. He has a similar repertoire to a different Japanese right-hander the Angels have in Shohei Ohtani.

Ohtani is in the final year of his deal. Maybe, just maybe, a Senga signing could convince him to stay?

Of course, that shouldn't be why the Angels sign him but it's definitely an added bonus.

Is it likely the Angels sign Bassitt and Senga? Definitely not. Especially if they plan to make the necessary additions with the position players and bullpen. However, this is my dream rotation. It's not completely out of the question Senga could want to come to Anaheim with Ohtani and the Angels surely will be interested in him. Let's make it happen, Perry!

Dream LA Angels starting rotation #6 starter: Jose Suarez

With Shohei Ohtani (and potentially Kodai Senga in the rotation, the Angels will likely use a six-man rotation. Jose Suarez being the sixth member of the staff would be great.

Suarez has spent time as a starter and reliever during his tenure in Anaheim and finally appeared to have come into his own in the second half as a starter.

Suarez posted a 2.81 second half ERA in 2022, almost a three-run improvement from his 5.60 first half ERA.

After going five innings or more just twice in the first half, Suarez did it in all 11 of his second half starts including two outings of seven scoreless innings.

It's important to note that Suarez pitched well against mostly inferior competition and struggled in his starts against the Mariners and Astros.

Suarez still impressed in the second half and looked like a real starter the Angels could potentially look to build around. He still has more to prove, but like Sandoval and Detmers, his second half could hopefully transfer into 2023.