Dream LA Angels Opening Day starting lineup and pitcher

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The Los Angeles Angels have an Opening Day roster that's pretty much set. The roster has very few areas of competition, so if the Angels are able to get through Spring Training completely healthy, we have a basic idea of what the roster will look like.

While we know most of who will crack the roster, there're a couple of positions we don't know about. Catcher and shortstop are the positions I'm not really sure who gets the nod. The same can probably be said about second base.

This isn't the lineup I'd expect the Angels to start with, but it's the most exciting one they have to offer.

1) Batting first for the Angels and playing LF Taylor Ward

The leadoff spot should be Taylor Ward's spot. He gets on base at a very high level and should give Ohtani and Trout plenty of chances to drive in runs. Ward has the ability to hit for power as well so who knows, could a leadoff home run be in store? Would be quite the way to kick off the season.

2) Batting second for the Angels and playing CF Mike Trout

The top of the order is very predictable, but has to be said anyway. Mike Trout has been a staple in the second spot in the order for years and 2023 should be no different. Get your best hitter the most at-bats possible, hopefully with a baserunner or two. The Angels just have to hope he can stay on the field.

3) Batting third for the Angels and pitching Shohei Ohtani

It will never not be weird to see the pitcher batting third, but Ohtani will be on the mound as announced by Phil Nevin and should be batting third. Trout and Ohtani should be hitting second and third in some order, you can't really go wrong either way. If Ward and Trout can stay on the field there should be plenty of RBI opportunities for Shohei to help himself on the mound.

4) Batting fourth for the Angels and playing 3B Anthony Rendon

In this dream, Anthony Rendon reverts back to the 2019 version of himself. He's back to being a superstar who was the best player on a team that won the World Series. While that's obviously unlikely, Rendon should still hit cleanup. If he's at 100 percent, he has a shot at being an all-star caliber player.

5) Batting fifth for the Angels and playing RF Hunter Renfroe

The Jo Adell replacement bats fifth and provides the Angels with instant power. Renfroe is a guy you can rely on to hit at least 25 home runs in a season. The Angels lengthening their lineup with established veterans instead of young players we hope blossom into stars is new and refreshing. Renfroe is one of those veterans who you know what you'll get. Hopefully hitting behind the likes of Trout, Ohtani, and Rendon, he can hit a lot of two or three-run homers.

6) Batting sixth for the Angels and playing 1B Jared Walsh

Can you imagine Renfroe and the 2021 version of Jared Walsh hitting back-to-back? Yes, we'd see some strikeouts, but the power is insane! Walsh says he's 100 percent healthy, and hopefully he's telling the truth. If so, the Angels get another 25+ home run bat and he's batting sixth! Hitting in this spot is perfect for Walsh and should create a lot of RBI chances. Let's hope he cashes in.

7) Batting seventh for the Angels and playing 2B Brandon Drury

Brandon Drury hit 28 home runs last year and yet he's batting seventh. That shows you the potential this Angels lineup truly has as it's loaded with veterans with power. Having a Silver Slugger winner hit seventh especially on the Angels would be a dream. He'd be one of the best number seven hitters in baseball and is yet another player who can hit 25+ home runs.

8) Batting eighth for the Angels and playing SS Gio Urshela

The first seven in the order is pretty self-explanatory, but here's where things get more dream-like. Gio Urshela is likely not going to be the Opening Day shortstop. He's played 18 complete games at that position in his career. Urshela starting at short would be for his bat, as it's better than Luis Rengifo's and far better than David Fletcher's. Again, it's very unlikely, but it's a dream that maybe could come true.

9) Batting ninth for the Angels and playing C Logan O'Hoppe

Logan O'Hoppe wins the catching job in this dream and never relinquishes it. He's the top prospect in the Angels system and gives them the highest upside out of any catcher option they have. Nobody wants to see Max Stassi or Matt Thaiss in this spot. Let the kid play and watch him rake!

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The dream Los Angeles Angels Opening Day starting lineup and pitcher