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MLB: Key to success for all 30 teams heading into 2015

By Robby Sabo

Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the 9th inning in game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 15, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals relief pitcher Greg Holland throws a pitch against the Baltimore Orioles during the 9th inning in game four of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards (43) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Garrett Richards (43) pitches against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports /

Los Angeles Angels

  • 2014 Finish: 98-64, 1st in AL West, Lost in ALDS
  • 2015 Key to Success: Starter step up

Whether the Los Angeles Angels had enough starting pitching to get to the 2014 World Series was the all important question heading into October last season.

It turned out they didn’t.

Now, as we head into 2015, we still ask ourselves the same question.

Mike Trout, Albert Pujols, David Freese, Erick Aybar, Kole Calhoun – the lineup is just silly, even when thinking about clutch postseason performers. Obviously, last season proved it as the Angles led the majors in offense with 773 runs while winning the most games in baseball.

Pitching is the area this team will have to answer to all season long.

Finishing 15th in baseball in total team ERA last season, the Angels didn’t do much in the offseason to change the overall outlook.

Jared Weaver and C.J. Wilson still makeup the righty-lefty combo at the top of the staff. Both guys are interesting in the sense that they have before put up ace seasons, yet nobody really thinks either is a true ace.

26-year old Garrett Richards put together a gem of a season last year. For the longest time he was considered a top prospect who never fully clicked into big league play. That was until he went 13-4 with a 2.61 ERA and 164 K in 26 total starts last season.

If Richards can duplicate that season then the Angels might be sitting pretty. Should he falter, one of the other starters needs to step up and have an ace type season.

Angels Projected Starting Rotation:

  1. RHP, Jared Weaver
  2. LHP, C.J. Wilson
  3. RHP, Garrett Richards
  4. LHP, Hector Santiago
  5. RHP, Matt Shoemaker

Tyler Skaggs will most likely be the first man in should somebody struggle or come down with an injury.

A true one-two punch at the top of the rotation is the last missing ingredient for manager Mike Scioscia’s club to become World Series champion worthy.

Next: Philadelphia Phillies

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