Los Angeles Angels midseason awards: Most surprising pitcher

The Los Angeles Angels’ pitching staff has not been great this season but there have been some pleasant surprises thus far this year.

The big thing holding the Los Angeles Angels back from storming into a wild card slot is the team’s pitching. The Angels still have a lot of time to address the pitching staff and turn it around but that is the main reason why the team has hovered around .500 all year.

With an offensive lineup that can stand toe-to-toe with any team when healthy, just a middle of the line pitching staff can get the job done and put the Angels in a better spot to secure a wild-card berth.

That has not been the case. The Angels are 24th in FanGraphs WAR and have the seventh-highest ERA. If you narrow it down to just the starting pitching, which is where the Angels have really struggled, then the team is 28th in WAR and has the fourth-highest ERA.

That does not mean that the entire pitching staff has been a disappointment as it has been the new signings in Matt Harvey, Trevor Cahill and Cody Allen (who is no longer on the team) that have provided the most headache.

There have been some pleasant surprises in the pitching staff and as part of our Los Angeles Angels midseason awards, we give you the most surprising (in a good way) pitcher of the first half.

Los Angeles Angels most surprising pitcher: Hansel Robles

Cody Allen entered the season with the closing role as the Angels were hoping that he could find the magic that made him great with the Cleveland Indians a few years ago. That was not the case as the Angels quickly went to a closer by committee, which turned into the closing role going to Hansel Robles.

Aside from having possibly the greatest reliever walkout music in baseball, Robles has been a pleasant surprise since taking over the closing role. He has always been someone to put together a decent ERA in the bullpen but has put together his best year yet with a 2.74 ERA and 12 saves at the break.

Robles has only blown two saves since taking over the closer role and has not allowed more than two runs in any save or close game opportunities.

Twenty of his 43 appearances this year have produced a perfect outing (no hits or walks) and he has only allowed a run in seven of his 43 outings.

Honorable mentions for the award include Ty Buttrey and Cam Bedrosian, who have been the two-best relievers aside from Robles thus far but both have put these numbers up in the past.

Rookie Griffin Canning is also in the mix, however, he had some high expectations entering the league and has shown signs of greatness but has also struggled.

Either way, the most surprising pitcher of the first half is Hansel Robles and if he continues to succeed he can eventually blossom into one of the league’s best closers.