LA Angels: Grading the 2021 starting rotation

The LA Angels starting rotation really struggled again this year.

They dealt with injuries, their pitching coach getting canned for past sexual misconduct, and lots of turnover.

Here's a numbers breakdown of how bad the starting rotation was for the Halos this year:

ERA: 4.78 (Ninth-worst in baseball)

BB/9: 3.50 (Third-worst in baseball)

WHIP: 1.37 (T-sixth worst in baseball)

BB%: 9% (T-worst in baseball)

Grading the back-end of the LA Angels 2021 starting rotation:

No. 6 best LA Angels starting pitcher in 2021: Dylan Bundy--F

There are few good things to say about Dylan Bundy's performance for the LA Angels this season. In fact, he was so bad that despite being one of a relatively low amount of starting pitchers on trade blocks across baseball at the trade deadline, the Angels couldn't find anyone who wanted him.

Bundy recorded a 6.09 ERA as a starter this season for the Angels. Posting a 2-9 record, he walked a high 3.26 batters per nine innings. This year was not Bundy's year at all.

No. 5 best LA Angels starting pitcher in 2021: Jaime Barria--C

Jaime Barria didn't have the best numbers this season overall, but as a starter he doesn't grade out too poorly.

Recording a 3.91 ERA in 11 starts in 2021, Barria did show some flashes. In fact, in his last six starts, he gave up just nine runs in 26 innings (3.12 ERA).

The issue is that Barria was far from polished this season. Even in those last six starts, batters hit .343 against him. Barria posted a 1.52 WHIP and a 4.83 FIP this season.

While some things went well for Barria, he's not a finished product yet.

Grading the top of the LA Angels 2021 starting rotation:

No. 2 best LA Angels starting pitcher in 2021: Alex Cobb--B

Alex Cobb is similar to Sandoval in that he did have a good year for the LA Angels when he was healthy. Cobb finished the year (18 starts) with an 8-3 record and a 3.76 ERA. He was even better than what that tells you, though.

He recorded a superb 2.92 FIP. He struck out a career-high 9.5 batters per nine innings. Unfortunately, the Angels will need to make up for that production as Cobb is now a San Francisco Giant.

No. 1 best LA Angels starting pitcher in 2021: Shohei Ohtani--A+

There aren't many pitchers in baseball who are better than the LA Angels' 2021 Ace, Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani went 9-2 (on an injury-ravaged team) and posted a 3.18 ERA. Fanning 10.77 batters per nine innings, Ohtani proved that he can blow balls by hitters as well as locate really well in times where his ball wasn't coming out as hard.

He did all of this while also being the best offensive player in baseball. Pitching at an elite level while hitting to a line of .257/.372/.592 (.965 OPS), smoking 46 home runs, driving in 100 RBI (from the two-hole), scoring 103 runs, and stealing 26 bases, Ohtani won the AL MVP unanimously. His 2021 campaign is considered by many as the greatest season in baseball history.

I can only imagine what his pitching numbers would be if he wasn't DH'ing and playing the outfield as well. There's nothing anyone can say against Ohtani. This rotation may not have been very good last year, but Ohtani's season gives Angels fans hope for next year.

The rotation needs to be Arte Moreno's focus coming out of the MLB lockout. The lineup is immensely talented. We just finally need our starting staff to get the job done.