Ranking the 5 best starting pitchers in Angels history

The Los Angeles Angels don't have a lengthy list of great pitchers who have pitched for the franchise but they do have some special players who have done great things as members of the Angels organization.

The Angels currently have one of the best pitchers in baseball, Shohei Ohtani, who's climbing up the Angels statistical ranks as we speak. He's already top-20 in pitching bWAR despite only pitching for two full seasons! Where would he rank if he extends?

Who do you think the five best starting pitchers in Angels franchise history are right now?

5) Best starting pitchers in Angels history: Mike Witt

Coming up with only five pitchers for this list was rather tough, as there were guys that ended up being left off who I wanted to include. Mike Witt is a player who was simply too good to leave off this list.

This Anaheim native was drafted out of high school in the 1978 draft by the Angels and debuted in 1981 as a 20 year old. He finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year balloting that season after posting a 3.28 ERA in 22 appearances (21 starts).

Witt was a consistent starter in the Angels rotation in the first half of the 1980s, averaging 28 starts and 205 innings pitched with a 3.52 ERA from 1981-86. His best moment was a perfect game against the Rangers in the final game of the 1984 season. He struck out 10 and needed fewer than 100 pitches on that day.

He went 18-10 with a 2.84 ERA in 34 starts and an absurd 269 innings pitched. He was third in the AL in ERA, second in innings pitched, and fifth in strikeouts. He finished third in the AL Cy Young balloting that season, losing out to Roger Clemens. He was an all-star and finished 12th in the AL MVP balloting.

Witt spent 9.5 of his 12 seasons as an Angel and went 109-107 with a 3.76 ERA in 341 appearances (299 starts). He ranks fourth in innings pitched, strikeouts, wins, and starts. He was a true workhorse for the Halos, averaging 34 starts and 247 innings pitched from 1984-89.

He's not the flashiest name, but longevity definitely matters and Witt had 9.5 seasons of really good pitching. He was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 2015, deservingly so.

4) Best starting pitchers in Angels history: Frank Tanana

Frank Tanana was brought up as a 19-year-old in 1973 and made four starts. He impressed and found himself at the forefront of the rotation alongside Nolan Ryan. In his first full season, he made 39 appearances (35 starts) and had a 3.12 ERA in 268.2 innings pitched.

The next season he posted a sub-3.00 ERA at 2.62 and he led the league in strikeouts (269) and FIP (2.49). He finished fourth in the AL Cy Young balloting and established himself as one of the very best in the game.

Tanana would make three consecutive all-star teams from 1976-78 posting a 2.85 ERA in those seasons averaging 33 starts and 256 innings pitched. He'd lead the league in ERA with a 2.54 mark in 1977. Despite that, he only finished ninth in the Cy Young balloting while also leading the league in ERA+. He'd finish as high as third in the balloting in 1976.

It's unfortunate Tanana never won a Cy Young award because he was so dominant in that stretch. He was traded in the 1980 offseason in the deal that netted the Halos Fred Lynn. The fact that he only pitched for seven full seasons in an Angels uniform has something to do with him only ranking fourth on this list.

The southpaw went 102-78 as an Angel with a 3.08 ERA in 225 appearances (218 starts). He had a 3.18 FIP, a 118 ERA+, and even struck out 6.9 batters per nine which for those days was pretty solid.

Tanana ranks fifth in Angels history in strikeouts, innings pitched, ERA+, wins, and ERA. He ranks fourth in bWAR for pitchers and WHIP. He ranks second in complete games and shutouts. He's without a doubt a top-five pitcher in Angels history.

3) Best starting pitchers in Angels history: Jered Weaver

Another California kid, Jered Weaver, was selected 12th overall by the Angels in the 2004 MLB Draft. He'd debut two years later in 2006 and become one of the greatest starting pitchers in Angels history.

He'd get called up in late May of the 2006 season, posting seven shutout innings in a 10-1 win against the Orioles in front of the Angels faithful. Weaver was excellent as a rookie making 19 starts and posting a 2.56 ERA. He had a 177 ERA+. He was an instant star. Despite his great season, he only finished fifth in the Rookie of the Year balloting. The 19 starts had something to do with it, but c'mon.

Weaver would cement himself at the top of the Angels rotation in the next couple of years before really breaking out in the 2010 season. He went 13-12 with a 3.01 ERA in a league-leading 34 starts and 224.1 innings pitched. He had a 3.06 FIP, a 132 ERA+, and led the league with 233 strikeouts. He was an all-star and finished fifth in the AL Cy Young Balloting.

The following year was Weaver's best in his 12-year career. The right-hander went18-8 with a 2.41 ERA in 33 starts and 235.2 innings pitched. He had a 156 ERA+ and struck out 198 batters. Weaver would be an all-star and finish second in the Cy Young balloting, behind Justin Verlander who just so happened to win the Triple Crown and the MVP award that season.

He'd follow up that outstanding season by leading the league with 20 wins in 2012 and posting a 2.81 ERA. He was an all-star once again, finished third in the Cy Young balloting, and even received MVP votes. His highlight that season was a no-hitter against the Twins, famously losing it on a wild pitch strikeout. He'd walk just one batter that night.

Weaver would pitch for the Angels in 11 of his 12 seasons, making nine starts for the Padres in 2017 and struggling mightily before hanging up his spikes. Overall, he'd go 150-93 as an Angel with a 3.55 ERA in 322 starts.

Weaver ranks third in bWAR for pitchers in Angels history, third in innings pitched, and strikeouts. He ranks second in wins and starts. It'll be interesting to see when he gets inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame. He found his way on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for 2023.

1) Best starting pitchers in Angels history: Nolan Ryan

As I stated prior, number one is hard to choose. On one hand, we have the longevity argument with Chuck Finley. He didn't have the insane numbers someone like Nolan Ryan did, but he pitched for almost twice as long in an Angels uniform. That does hold value. However, I went with Nolan Ryan as the best pitcher in Angels history. He was simply too good not to.

Ryan was traded from the Mets to the Angels along with some other pieces in the deal that sent Jim Fregosi to the Mets. This was seen as a slight risk by the Angels as Ryan had very real command issues and Fregosi, of course, was a consistent all-star. Ryan would end up blossoming into one of the greatest pitchers ever with the Halos while Fregosi didn't hit, stay on the field, or last very long in New York. He was traded to Texas in the 1973 season, not even two years after acquiring him.

This trade ended up being one of the greatest in MLB history for the Angels. Ryan pitched for just eight years in an Angels uniform but was just unreal.

The Halos reaped the benefits instantly after the trade, seeing Ryan make 39 starts in the 1972 season, going 19-16 with a 2.28 ERA in 284 innings pitched. He led the league with 329 strikeouts and had a 10.4 K/9 which was unheard of for the 1970s. He'd also lead the league allowing just 5.3 hits per nine. The control issues were there as he led the league with 157 walks and 18 wild pitches but nobody could hit his stuff so he ended up being just fine. He'd be an all-star, finish eighth in the Cy Young balloting, and even garner some MVP votes.

The following two seasons would see Ryan finish second and third in the Cy Young balloting respectively. Ryan would come close to winning the Triple Crown in 1974 as he led the league in innings pitched and strikeouts, but he'd finish seventh in ERA.

Ryan would make five all-star teams as an Angel and would finish in the top ten of the Cy Young balloting four times. He'd lead the league in strikeouts in seven of his eight seasons as an Angel, just unreal.

His final season with the Angels saw the team make their first-ever playoff appearance. He'd make a playoff start that season going seven innings allowing three runs (one earned) and striking out eight batters in a series loss.

Overall, he'd go 138-121 with a 3.07 ERA in 291 appearances (288 starts). He'd post a 115 ERA+ and a 2.94 FIP. You can argue that he was at his best as a member of the Angels.

Despite only pitching for the team for eight years Ryan is second in bWAR for pitchers, fourth in ERA, third in wins, third in starts, and he leads the franchise in complete games, shutouts, and of course, strikeouts (also walks).

Ryan was inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame in 1992 and he also had his number 30 retired. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.