The Los Angeles Angels face a challenging period as they grapple with injuries and a strikingly high rate of strikeouts. With the team’s once-reliable five-man rotation now reduced to just Kyle Hendricks, the Angels are contending with several setbacks. Tyler Anderson has been sidelined with a left oblique strain, Kochanowicz has been demoted to the minors, and José Soriano is out for the season after sustaining a forearm injury from a comebacker. The team’s ace, Yusei Kikuchi, ended his 2025 season suddenly due to a finger issue, although he assured that it was not serious.
Kikuchi’s exit from his last game followed a public disagreement with manager Ray Montgomery about an early pull in a previous game. This time, Kikuchi managed a solid performance of five innings with only one run before being removed. Montgomery praised Kikuchi’s command and efficiency, noting that things might have been different had the finger issue not occurred.
On the offensive side, the Angels have been plagued by a high strikeout rate, registering a record number of whiffs throughout the season. After improving slightly with only six strikeouts in a game against the Kansas City Royals, the team still reflects on an embarrassing season-low with an 18-strikeout game against Seattle. The Angels hold one of the worst records in terms of in-zone whiff percentage and swinging strike percentage in baseball.
The Angels’ inability to make consistent contact at the plate suggests a need for adjusting their hitting strategy or acquiring players with stronger bat-to-ball skills. Despite housing potent hitters like Zach Neto and Mike Trout, the team’s offensive approach appears disjointed, contributing to their struggles. As the season wraps up with the worst record in the AL West, it’s evident that changes are needed for the Angels to compete effectively moving forward. It remains to be seen how the organization will address these challenges in the off-season and come back stronger in the next campaign.