It was not that long ago that the Los Angeles Angels were sitting atop the AL West. Their pitching staff was firing on all cylinders and it appeared as though Mike Trout may finally get to make his second appearance in the postseason. Yes, there was a long way to go in the 2022 season, but it was difficult not to be optimistic.
Then the losing started. The losses kept piling up and piling up, with the Angels being swept by a Phillies team that fired their manager just before their series. Heading into Monday, the Angels have now lost 11 consecutive games, falling 8.5 games behind the Astros and one game below .500 on the season.
Los Angeles Angels struggles likely to continue
The road is not about to get any easier. The Angels’ next seven games may be at home, but they are set to face the Red Sox and Mets in that time. After those seven games, they head across town for a two game set with the Dodgers. The losses could continue to pile up before they continue the road trip in Seattle.
This streak has been a perfect storm of misery. Mike Trout has been in a surprising slump. Shohei Ohtani and Noah Syndergaard have struggled. The bullpen as a whole has failed to hold leads. It is impossible to point the finger at any one reason as to why the Angels are in free fall.
And yet, one has to wonder how long it will be until something is done. The Angels are far too talented a team to be falling apart in this manner. Maybe the lineup needs to be shaken up with players taking a seat for a couple of games. Or maybe it is time to wonder if Joe Maddon is the right person for the job.
The Los Angeles Angels season is falling apart quickly. Based on their upcoming schedule, it may take some time before the losses stop.