The early stages of the 2025 MLB season have unfolded in a peculiar fashion for the Los Angeles Angels.
Characterized by significant performance challenges, the team finds itself navigating a landscape that feels, as one report puts it, like it’s “getting late early”.
An examination of their performance reveals key areas of struggle, alongside unique team characteristics that have already carved a niche in baseball history.
An Unusual Start to 2025
The Los Angeles Angels have experienced a strange and possibly ominous beginning to their 2025 campaign. As May commenced, the team held a record of 14 wins and 20 losses. This places them in the basement of the American League West division.
They are trailing the division leader, the Mariners, by six and a half games and sit four and a half games behind the Athletics for the final wild-card spot. The season’s oddities extend beyond just their record.
The Bullpen’s Significant Struggles
A major factor contributing to the Angels’ difficulties early in the season is the performance of their bullpen. The relief corps has posted a combined earned run average of 6.95, which ranks as the second-worst in all of Major League Baseball.
Beyond ERA, their collective performance metrics are also concerning, highlighting a significant area for improvement if the team hopes to contend. This inconsistency has also begun to influence Angels baseball lines, as bettors take note of the team’s inability to secure leads late in games.
Key Bullpen Metrics
Statistically, the Angels’ bullpen is tied for the worst walk plus hits per inning pitched (WHIP) in MLB, standing at 1.720 (a dubious honor shared with the Washington Nationals). This high number indicates that opposing hitters are reaching base with alarming frequency against Angels relievers. Furthermore, the bullpen has struggled significantly with the long ball, having surrendered an MLB-high 24 home runs.
Lack of Reliable Options
The issues are compounded by a lack of standout individual performances within the relief group. The pitcher considered the team’s best reliever through the early part of the year, Ryan Zeferjahn, holds what are described as merely “okay numbers.”
Many other relievers on the roster have posted earned run averages exceeding 5.00, with some reaching as high as 11.00.
Individual Relief Performances
Examining individual statistics offers more insight into the bullpen’s challenges. Ryan Zeferjahn, despite being the most trusted reliever, has pitched 10.2 innings with a 4.22 ERA, a 1.031 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 102. Another reliever recently added to the mix is Shaun Anderson. In his season debut, Anderson tossed 1.1 innings in the majors, recording three strikeouts, one walk, and allowing one earned run. His performance in Triple-A before joining the big league club included a 5.06 ERA over seven starts, spanning 30 strikeouts and 13 walks.
Seeking Stability with Andrew Vasquez
In an effort to fortify their struggling bullpen, the Angels have signed reliever Andrew Vasquez to a minor league contract. Vasquez, a journeyman who has played for six MLB franchises over five years, has had a turbulent career. His overall big league stats include a 4.24 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and 31 walks over 63.2 innings. However, he recently garnered attention for his performance in the hitter-friendly Mexican League.
In Mexico, Vasquez did not allow an earned run over seven and two-thirds innings, striking out six batters while walking just one. He also secured three saves in a closer role. While this represents a small sample size, his effectiveness there led to the Angels signing him, hoping he can provide much-needed stability to the bullpen. This signing is seen as a potentially low-risk, high-reward move for the club.
The ‘Anderson’ Historical Anomaly
Adding to the unusual nature of the Angels’ early season is a peculiar historical footnote involving player names. With the season debut of Shaun Anderson, the Angels now have four players on the team with the last name ‘Anderson’: Ian, Tim, Tyler, and Shaun. This marks a rare occurrence in Major League Baseball history.
The last time a team had four or more players with the same surname in a single season was the 1994 Baltimore Orioles, who featured Mark, Lonnie, Lee, and Dwight Smith. Shaun Anderson himself is noted as a journeyman, having spent time in multiple organizations and international leagues before joining the Angels.
Navigating Challenges and Future Prospects
The statistical picture for the Angels early in 2025 is dominated by their poor overall record and, particularly, the struggles of their bullpen. With a combined ERA near 7.00 and a league-high in home runs allowed, addressing relief pitching is paramount.
Signings like Andrew Vasquez represent attempts to find solutions via non-traditional avenues, offering potential stability or even future trade value.
As a team in the lower half of their division, the Angels are likely to continue exploring such low-risk acquisitions as they aim to build for the future, hoping some prove to be bargains amidst the challenging statistical landscape.
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