Opinion
3 min read

Angels Seek Redemption Against Rays After Tough Series

As the Los Angeles Angels prepare to face the Tampa Bay Rays, fans are looking for a strong comeback following a series of challenging games. The Angels have shown both flashes of brilliance and moments of vulnerability in their recent outings, which sets up an intriguing matchup against the Rays.


Sep 21, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Randal Grichuk (15) celebrates after hitting a double during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

In their last game on April 1st against the Miami Marlins, the Angels displayed a solid performance with 7 hits and 7 runs. Their hitting statistics were impressive with an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of .909 and a batting average (BA) of .212. However, it was their power-hitting that truly stood out as they managed to hit 3 home runs out of just 19 total bases. This kind of slugging is what fans will hope to see more consistently.


Despite this offensive output, there were areas that needed improvement. The team left quite a few players on base (LOB), indicating missed opportunities to extend their lead further. Additionally, while they had success stealing bases at a rate of two-thirds success, getting caught once shows there's room for better decision-making on the base paths.


Sep 21, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Manuel Margot (13) hits the game winning RBI during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Pitching has been another area where consistency is key for LAA. In their previous games against Baltimore Orioles on March 30th and March 31st, we saw two very different performances from the bullpen – one day allowing no earned runs over four innings and another struggling with an ERA of 21 over three innings.


Defense also remains critical; errors can be costly as seen in both games against Baltimore where one error each potentially shifted momentum.


Sep 21, 2023; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Jose Marte (68) throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays during the sixth inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Looking ahead at Tropicana Field – if history is any indicator – it's going to be about which version of the Angels shows up: The power hitters who can change a game with one swing or the team that struggles to capitalize fully on scoring opportunities?


The scheduled game between Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays will take place at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, FL on April 15th at 6:50 PM ET. Fans eager to follow every pitch can catch all action live where coverage will be available through local broadcasts.

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