Projecting the Los Angeles Angels 2023 Opening Day roster 4.0
We're officially one week before Opening Day. It's been way too long since we've seen Los Angeles Angels games that count, and I couldn't be more excited for Taylor Ward to step into the box for the first at-bat of the season in Oakland.
A lot has happened since our last projections were released. There were a ton of roster cuts as roles are starting to become a little more defined.
With another week left before Opening Day, there're still some competitions that need to be decided on. Who will nab the other catcher spot alongside Max Stassi? Who grabs the last reliever spot? Who's the sixth starter? Who's the starting shortstop? Most of the roster is set, but those are four glaring questions that need answers.
Opening Day rosters are very hard to predict, and this Angels roster in particular is very deep with a lot of viable options. Without further adieu, let's give this a shot.
Angels 2023 Opening Day roster predictions: Two-way players (1)
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani is returning from an MVP performance at the WBC. He struck out Mike Trout to end it, and is set to compete for another AL MVP award. He's going to pitch a minor league game tomorrow and will take the ball on Opening Day.
Angels 2023 Opening Day roster predictions: Starting pitchers (5+Ohtani)
Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson, Reid Detmers, Jose Suarez, Tucker Davidson
The first five starters have been solidified all spring. We now have what is likely going to be the order. Shohei Ohtani is starting on Opening Day followed by Patrick Sandoval and Tyler Anderson who will make his Angels debut to finish the series in Oakland. Reid Detmers opens a crucial series in Seattle followed by Jose Suarez and then Shohei Ohtani again, as Sandoval preps for the Home Opener.
Yes, this means the sixth starter won't start a game the first turn through the rotation. I do expect him to make that first start during the first homestand of the year, however. The man for that job I still believe is Tucker Davidson.
The southpaw is coming off of his first rough start of the spring, but the numbers were a bit inflated due to a runner reaching on a wild pitch strikeout which extended the inning. Regardless, it wasn't a great start for Davidson who will hopefully get back on track on Sunday at Dodger Stadium.
Davidson has looked much better this spring than he did as an Angel to finish off the 2022 campaign. He's walked just three batters in 13 innings pitched to go along with 19 strikeouts. That'll work. He has not given up a single home run in his five starts, another encouraging sign.
14 hits in 13 innings pitched isn't ideal, but eight of them came in that aforementioned last start. For the most part, he's been really, really good.
Davidson being out of options is the biggest reason why he'll make the team. Griffin Canning can be sent down and be insurance if there's an injury or if Davidson struggles. Losing an arm like this who has looked good for the most part to roster a guy who hasn't pitched in a MLB game since July of 2021 isn't the best decision. Start the year with Davidson, and if he struggles then DFA him.
Angels 2023 Opening Day roster predictions: Starting lineup (8 +Ohtani)
Taylor Ward, Mike Trout, Anthony Rendon, Hunter Renfroe, Jared Walsh, Brandon Drury, Gio Urshela, Max Stassi
The top seven of this lineup remain unchanged, but for the first time in these roster projections, I have changes in the starting lineup.
Gio Urshela has looked much better at shortstop than I anticipated, and I feel more comfortable with him starting games at that position now. Originally I had David Fletcher starting at short because of his defense, but his bat is the worst by far of every shortstop candidate. Urshela is arguably the best hitter of the three options, and with me being more comfortable with his glove I think he should be there. He'll bat anywhere from 6-8 if he is, the Walsh, Drury, Urshela trio is pretty interchangeable in my eyes.
Now for the moment you've all been waiting for, I do have Max Stassi as the catcher with Matt Thaiss. alongside him. This means Logan O'Hoppe will begin the year in AAA. I have Stassi listed as the starter because I believe he'd get the Opening Day nod but believe there will be a timeshare, at least until one does more than the other offensively or defensively.
I don't agree with this decision, as I'm extremely high on O'Hoppe's bat and think his glove has been solid as well. It's just what I think the Angels will do.
Like Davidson, Thaiss is out of options. As much as they want to say they'll take the best 26, it doesn't always make sense to do that. They won't want to lose Thaiss for nothing, and with a nice spring, Thaiss would likely get claimed off of waivers.
They'll have O'Hoppe begin the year in AAA to get more experience and come up if/when they need a punch offensively. While Thaiss has performed well in the spring, I'm not a believer in him being anything more than a backup catcher. The Angels won't want to give up on him, so I believe he's going to be on the roster.
Angels 2023 Opening Day roster predictions: Bench (4)
Matt Thaiss, David Fletcher, Luis Rengifo, Brett Phillips
As I said prior, I believe Stassi and Thaiss will be more of a tandem splitting time. I have Thaiss listed as the bench guy, but believe both will play a lot to begin the year. Now onto the rest of the bench.
The Angels have versatility all over the diamond with Fletcher and Rengifo. Fletcher is more of a glove guy while Rengifo is known for his bat.
I believe Rengifo will start virtually every day the Angels face a lefty replacing Jared Walsh. They'd have Drury or Urshela play first with Rengifo playing second or short. Rengifo should also see time in both corner outfield spots.
Fletcher will get his playing time when ground ball pitchers are on the mound like Tyler Anderson or Patrick Sandoval. Get his glove ready to make plays when needed.
The consequential one is Brett Phillips. I don't want to keep repeating myself, but this will happen. Phillips fits the role best of a guy whose sole purpose is to run and play defense. He will rarely play. This is why Moniak should not be on the roster. This roster is a hard one to predict, but the last bench spot really isn't hard to predict in my eyes.
Angels 2023 Opening Day roster predictions: Bullpen (8)
Carlos Estevez, Jimmy Herget, Matt Moore, Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, Jose Quijada, Jaime Barria, Andrew Wantz
The first six spots of this bullpen are locked up completely. Even with Jose Quijada's disastrous outing against the Rockies he'll still start the year on the roster, he's too talented not to and is out of options.
The question about those six is who will be the closer? Estevez is probably the front runner still, as despite a rough spring he has looked better and feels the most suited for that role.
This bullpen is deeper than it has been in a long time, especially if Loup and Tepera can have bounce-back seasons. Loup has looked excellent this spring and pitched really well when called upon for Team USA in the WBC.
Onto the last two. I don't think Jaime Barria is an absolute lock, but he's like 95% on the roster. He was good in his role last season and again, is out of options. The Angels likely wouldn't have tendered him a contract if they felt he'd have a shot at being DFA'd.
The last spot is where things get interesting. It's really between Andrew Wantz and Ben Joyce. As much as I want to say Ben Joyce because he truly has been awesome, we saw him struggle a bit in his last outing and I just can't see the Angels taking this kind of risk.
Joyce is an unbelievable story being drafted in the third round in 2022 and even having a shot at an Opening Day spot, I just think Wantz has been really good in the spring as well and was good in the MLB last season. That combined with Joyce having 13 innings of professional experience makes it hard to justify rostering him.
This, once again, is a god problem to have, The Angels could have more than eight options to turn to for relievers which is something they couldn't realistically say for years.
Joyce will get his shot, and I bet it's sooner than later. That right arm of his is special, and I can't wait to see it in Anaheim when the time comes. I just don't see that time being Opening Day.