Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward has struggled to seek out the identical outcomes he achieved on the plate final season, main him to spend appreciable time within the batting cage earlier than the workforce’s dwelling recreation in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday in Anaheim, Calif.
Ward went into the sport with one hit and 13 strikeouts in his earlier 27 at-bats in eight video games with an general common of .176. Distinction that to final season, when he hit .246 with an OPS of .748. This season, that is 624.
So Tuesday, he hit off an Angels’ minor league pitcher the membership introduced in particularly to throw to Ward. He’s anticipated to be again within the cages on Wednesday earlier than the second contest of the three-game sequence between the golf equipment.
Ward appeared to reply to the additional work, blasting a two-run homer 419 ft to middle discipline within the first inning within the Angels’ 8-3 win off Blue Jays starter Jose Urena.
“He hit a few of them fairly good and a few of them he acquired beat,” Angels supervisor Ron Washington stated of the roughly 40 pitches thrown to Ward. “That occurs, whether or not you are swinging good or not.
“It was simply to get him some additional stuff. As an alternative of seeing 45 or 50 (mph from a coach), he noticed some 90, 92, 93, 94 with some breaking stuff and a few changeups. He did not know what was coming. He needed to make changes. That is what it is all about.”
The concept of bringing in a minor league pitcher, which Washington utilized final season just a few instances, is likely to be one thing different struggling Angels hitters ought to think about, based on skipper.
“In case you ask me, we should always have had the entire workforce out right here,” Washington stated.
As a workforce, the Angels have the bottom common within the American League, hitting .216.
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 4.21 ERA) will begin on the mound Wednesday for Los Angeles, hoping his eighth begin will translate into his first victory in an Angels uniform. Kikuchi, who signed a three-year, $63 million contract within the offseason, has not pitched horribly. He has three high quality begins and has allowed three runs or fewer in 5 of his seven begins.
Kikuchi is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three profession begins vs. Toronto, his former workforce. He made 86 appearances (21-22, 4.48 ERA) for the membership from 2022-24.
Proper-hander Jose Berrios (1-1, 3.98), who will make his eighth begin of the season for the Blue Jays, is coming off a no-decision in opposition to the Boston Purple Sox regardless of pitching properly sufficient to win. He allowed two runs and 7 hits in 6 2/3 innings whereas putting out eight and strolling one in Toronto’s 4-2 win final Thursday.
He’s 3-5 with a 5.64 ERA in 10 profession begins in opposition to the Angels.
Just like the Angels with Ward, the Blue Jays are relying on proper fielder Anthony Santander to return to type. Signed to a five-year, $92.5 million deal within the offseason, Santander hit 44 dwelling runs in 2024 for the Baltimore Orioles. Regardless of hitting a homer on Tuesday, his common stands at .180 to go together with 5 homers, 13 RBIs and a .597 OPS.
“He walks into the clubhouse like a man who hit 44 dwelling runs day by day,” Toronto common supervisor Ross Atkins stated. “Nothing ever adjustments with him or his work ethic. We discuss work ethic on a regular basis and I give it some thought each time I say, ‘These guys are the hardest-working guys,’ however Tony’s routine and his dedication to being the perfect he can probably be is pretty much as good because it will get.”
–Area Stage Media
