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Los Angeles Angels need starting pitching to reach postseason

By Hil Lopez

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 16: Pitcher Andrew Heaney #28 of the Los Angeles Angels waits with catcher Kevan Smith #44 for manager Brad Ausmus (L) to take Heaney out of the game as David Fletcher #6 looks on during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 16, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - JULY 16: Pitcher Andrew Heaney #28 of the Los Angeles Angels waits with catcher Kevan Smith #44 for manager Brad Ausmus (L) to take Heaney out of the game as David Fletcher #6 looks on during the fifth inning of the MLB game against the Houston Astros at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on July 16, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Angels are close enough to make a playoff run but ultimately need to fill in the team’s biggest need to make that run.

The Los Angeles Angels are in an interesting place as they are only five games back of the wild card spot at 55-52. They are behind a couple of teams in the Indians, Athletics, Rays and Red Sox.

With Mike Trout just about to reach his prime, the Angels need to do as much as possible to contend this year and future upcoming years. The main aspect that has plagued the Angels for the past couple of years is their starting pitching. The best way to fix this is to make moves that will upgrade their pitching before the trade deadline on July 31.

The first pitcher that would come to mind would be Zack Greinke. Though Greinke is owed an exorbitant amount of money the next two years ($70 million), he would be a great upgrade over the current Angel pitching staff.

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Greinke has a 10-4 record for the year and is on pace to pitch over 200+ innings yet again this year. He does not issue many walks and has an above-average strikeout rate. Greinke has been durable throughout his career and could help the Angels get over the hump in their hopeful return to the playoffs.

Furthermore, a second pitcher the Angels might want to try grabbing would be Noah Syndergaard from the New York Mets. The Mets, like the Angels, are still in the wild card race for the NL as they are only six games out. However, they have seven teams they need to leapfrog which would lead them to possibly trade Syndergaard.

Syndergaard has not been that good this year, as he has an ERA of 4.33 and a WHIP of 1.26. Though those may seem like bad numbers, Thor, as he is nicknamed, has a cool 126/36 K/BB ratio.

He also is under team control for two more years after this season as well. That option would be very good to the Angels as they would be able to have him at a reasonable salary and maximize the last two years of Albert Pujols‘ contract without having to make any sacrifices.

The Mets would probably be looking for a couple of good prospects from the Angels to trade for Thor, but seeing as how their farm system was not as bad as it was a couple of years ago, the Angels should do all they can to make the playoffs this year.

The Los Angeles Angels have not made the playoffs the last five years and when they did they were swept by the Royals. Mike Trout has accomplished many accolades during his career, but winning a postseason series has not been one of them.

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The Angels need to upgrade their pitching as their most pressing matter before the trade deadline so they can stay in the wild card race and reach the playoffs once again.

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