What’s Next for the Angels as Their Season Is Essentially Over
After a brutal 17-4 loss to the Athletics on Saturday night in Anaheim, the Los Angeles Angels have hit a low. The Angels currently sit eight games back of the final wild card spot with a record of 66-76, already a better record than their 2024 campaign, but nothing to be too excited about. Brutal pitching and a lackluster offense have put the Angels in a position to miss the postseason again. All the Halos can do now is take the final weeks of the season to evaluate which young players can be part of the future, build upon current veterans to contribute to the future, and determine the direction this franchise truly wants to take once another lost season has come to an end.
The Angels have a strong core that looks promising as the season comes to a close. Shortstop Zach Neto has given the Angels much-needed consistency both at the plate and in the infield. Neto is close to having his first career 30/30 season, sitting at 25 homers and 29 stolen bases. Jo Adell is having his best season with the Angels organization after struggling for a few years. Adell’s bat is putting up serious numbers with 131 hits, 34 homers, and an .807 OPS that puts him amongst the top 12 outfielders in all of the MLB. Fellow outfielder Taylor Ward has also put up impressive numbers for the Angels. Ward is at a career high of 30 homers this season, with 95 RBI’s, and a .790 OPS that has Ward just four spots behind Adell as the 16th best outfielder in the league. Building around Neto, Adell, and Ward provides the Halos with a solid foundation to develop on.
Pitching, on the other hand, has been the Angels’ greatest weakness. Consistency has been nearly impossible from the rotation this season. José Soriano has been the only bright spot this season, except that even he has suffered from getting roughed up as of late. 2025 all-star, Yusei Kikuchi, was great in the first half of the season, but has fallen to an ERA above four and allowed seven runs against the Athletics in last night's loss. In fact, the Angels' starting rotation currently doesn't have a starter below an ERA of four, with Jack Kochanowicz rounding up the traditional five-man rotation with a 6.81 ERA. Not to mention that when the starters struggle, it naturally puts pressure on the bullpen arms to come in and clean up the mess, then adds even more pressure for the Angels' offense to produce and win games. Not a winning strategy.
Injuries have not escaped the Angels organization. Mike Trout has been in and out with injuries this year, and Anthony Rendon is still recovering after undergoing hip surgery in the spring. Ben Joyce is another missed arm in the bullpen after a right shoulder injury ended his 2025 season. Injuries, though, are not an excuse for the Angels missing out on another year of postseason baseball. The Angels can address depth and durability through roster moves, free-agent signings, or giving opportunities to their young talent.
September saw the Halos make moves as the rosters expanded across MLB, and some of the team's prospects received some playing time before joining the team full-time next year. Caden Dana finally got the call back up with the big league club after some found success has earned him the call. Others, like Sam Aldegheri and Ryan Johnson, are still waiting for another chance. Even if the appearances don’t lead to instant success with the team in the final months, they allow the prospects to improve upon something over the offseason.
With another October out of reach, the Angels' final month should be less about wins and losses and more about finding direction. Evaluating the farm system, reviewing the current roster both on offense and defense, addressing pitching, and finding ways to manage injuries will shape the direction of the franchise going forward. The pieces for a competitive core are in place. However, without the necessary changes, the Angels will risk finding themselves in the same position next year.
