Deadspin | Stories of redemption abound as Angels host Blue Jays

Los Angeles Angels left fielder Taylor Ward has struggled to search out the similar effects he accomplished on the plate closing season, main him to spend really extensive time within the batting cage earlier than the group’s house recreation towards 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 8 video games with an total moderate of .176. Contrast that to closing 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 is predicted to be again within the cages on Wednesday earlier than the second one contest of the three-game collection between the golf equipment.

Ward appeared to reply to the additional paintings, blasting a two-run homer 419 ft to middle box within the first inning within the Angels’ 8-3 win off Blue Jays starter Jose Urena.

“He hit some of them pretty good and some of them he got beat,” Angels supervisor Ron Washington stated of the roughly 40 pitches thrown to Ward. “That happens, whether you’re swinging good or not.

“It used to be simply to get him some additional stuff. Instead of seeing 45 or 50 (mph from a trainer), he noticed some 90, 92, 93, 94 with some breaking stuff and a few changeups. He did not know what used to be coming. He needed to make changes. That’s what it is all about.”

The idea of bringing in a minor league pitcher, which Washington applied last season a few times, might be something other struggling Angels hitters should consider, according to skipper.

“If you question me, we will have to have had the entire group out right here,” Washington said.

As a team, the Angels have the lowest average in the American League, hitting .216.

Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 4.21 ERA) will start on the mound Wednesday for Los Angeles, hoping his eighth start will translate into his first victory in an Angels uniform. Kikuchi, who signed a three-year, $63 million contract in the offseason, has not pitched horribly. He has three quality starts and has allowed three runs or fewer in five of his seven starts.

Kikuchi is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three career starts vs. Toronto, his former team. He made 86 appearances (21-22, 4.48 ERA) for the club from 2022-24.

Right-hander Jose Berrios (1-1, 3.98), who will make his eighth start of the season for the Blue Jays, is coming off a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox despite pitching well enough to win. He allowed two runs and seven hits in 6 2/3 innings while striking out eight and walking one in Toronto’s 4-2 win last Thursday.

He is 3-5 with a 5.64 ERA in 10 career starts against the Angels.

Like the Angels with Ward, the Blue Jays are counting on right fielder Anthony Santander to return to form. Signed to a five-year, $92.5 million deal in the offseason, Santander hit 44 home runs in 2024 for the Baltimore Orioles. Despite hitting a homer on Tuesday, his average stands at .180 to go with five homers, 13 RBIs and a .597 OPS.

“He walks into the clubhouse like a man who hit 44 house runs on a daily basis,” Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said. “Nothing ever adjustments with him or his paintings ethic. We discuss paintings ethic always and I take into consideration it each time I say, ‘These guys are the hardest-working guys,’ however Tony’s regimen and his dedication to being the most productive he can perhaps be is as excellent because it will get.”

–Field Level Media