MLB Power Rankings: Which pitching rotation is the best in baseball?
By Phil Akre
10. Los Angeles Angels
“SHOHEI OHTANI IS THE GREATEST PLAYER TO EVER LI-”
WOAH! Let me cut you off there. Well, maybe you didn’t say that. Did I say that? Who knows, but a lot of people are saying that Angels’ phenom Shohei Ohtani is the greatest thing to happen to the sport in a long time.
To be quite honest, they’re not wrong.
He’s been as advertised since coming to the MLB both at the plate and on the mound. In his eight starts, he’s pitched to a fantastic ERA of 3.18 and struck out a whopping 57 in 45.1 innings. He’s allowed just five home runs and 17 walks.
That’s some serious production for your first season facing the best hitters in the world.
But, aside form Ohtani, the Angels’ rotation has been pretty good thus far. Garret Richards and Tyler Skaggs have combined for a 3.63 ERA in the No. 1 and No. 3 spots, respectively.
Of the starters not named Ohtani, Andrew Heaney has been the most impressive. The 27-year-old has throw to a 3.66 ERA and racked up 54 K’s through 51.2 innings. Even more impressive is the fact that he has given up just four home run’s in that span.
When you put it all together, Angels’ starters have pitched to a 3.84 overall ERA. Their .235 BAA is also the tenth-best mark in the game.
Wit the team sitting at 30-27 in the AL West standings, things are looking pretty good for Shohei & Co.