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LA Angels: 3 hot starts that will last
The LA Angels are off to a hot start this season, being tied for second in wins for the American League. They're just a half game back of the Astros for first place in the division. The Halos had many doubters coming into the season, but have looked outstanding up to this point.
Their hot start certainly does look sustainable. They have the two best players in baseball, they improved their bullpen significantly in the offseason, and their starters have been outperforming expectation through the first 33 games of the year.
Three players in particular are going to be leading the charge. They will 100% be sustaining their fast starts, and will continue carrying this team to even greater heights as the season goes on.
No. 3 hot start that will last for LA Angels: Patrick Sandoval
Patrick Sandoval currently has started five ballgames and has a 2.03 ERA in those games for the LA Angels. His 2.44 FIP is strong, and he's really continuing to move further and further in his development as a starting pitcher in this league. Not giving up a single home run, nobody can square him up.
This start will absolutely turn into the story of his 2022 season. He showed so much improvement last year when moving to the rotation, posting a 3.62 ERA and a 122 ERA+. He was on this trajectory and is now seeing it continue coming to fruition. So far, he's been the best starter in the Halos' rotation.
No. 2 hot start that will last for LA Angels: Mike Trout
Mike Trout's performance this year has been off-the-charts good, as it always has been for the LA Angels. He's hitting .337/.462/.762 (1.188 OPS) this season.
That slugging percentage leads all of baseball, and each one of those numbers are career-highs except for his on-base percentage (which is just four points behind his career-high in 2021). Trout is on pace for 122 runs this season, and 44 homers to add to it.
He's made a total of one error defensively in these last three seasons, and is on MVP watch yet again this year. He has a 249 OPS+ to go along with a 246 wRC+. His 2.3 fWAR lines him up to be on pace for an 11.3 fWAR this season, which would be over a game higher than his previous career-high.
Trout continues to add to his GOAT case this year, which would only help the team. This is arguably the best Angels team he's played on, and there's no way he'll squander that opportunity.
Trouty has never slipped once in his career, and this year is certainly no exception. Expect him to keep being the player fans have come to know and love these past 11 years.
No. 1 hot start that will last for LA Angels: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani has been just as good as he was last year for the LA Angels. While he hasn't been the same at the plate (.258/.317/.445 slash line), he still has scored 24 runs and driven in 21. His 125 OPS+ is impressive as well. On the mound, however, Ohtani has been even better.
He's gone six starts, boasting a 2.78 ERA to go along with a 2.13 FIP and 0.959 WHIP. It goes to show that he is absolutely going to continue on this route because he's at least already shown that he had quite the offseason when it comes to pitching. To be able to look even better already despite having a short spring training is remarkable.
Remember, routines and continuity is more important for two-way players than anyone, and there was absolutely no continuity at all when it came to this past offseason with the MLB lockout. Ohtani could have easily been absolutely buried, and he's actually been better on the bump and still producing runs for the team.
Next. 3 players to battle for reps with David Fletcher out. dark
He hasn't lost a step overall at all, even when he had valid excuses to. He'll continue to keep bringing it this year, and it'll have major impacts on the entire team. As long as the two best players in the league are at their best, this team will be dangerous. And there's no signs of either of them slowing down any time soon.