The Angels have five games left to keep an unwanted piece of franchise history off the books. After Tuesday’s loss to the Athletics in West Sacramento, Los Angeles stood at 60-97 and needed three wins in its final five to avoid becoming the first Angels club to reach 100 defeats.
| Category | Figure |
|---|---|
| Angels record | 60-97 |
| Games remaining | 5 |
| Wins needed to stay below 100 losses | 3 |
| Run differential | -89 |
| One-run games | 19-29 |
| Extra-inning games | 6-14 |
No Angels season has ever finished with triple-digit losses, so there is still something real on the line in the closing days. The larger picture remains rough, but there are a few reasons inside the clubhouse to believe the foundation looks sturdier than it did earlier in the year. A new ownership group led by Stan Kroenke is expected to complete its purchase during the first quarter of 2027.
The rotation gave the club a late-season foothold
Since Aug. 1, the Angels’ starting staff has been among the best in baseball. The group has allowed 84 earned runs across 259 2/3 innings, good for a 2.91 ERA that ranks second in the Majors over that stretch.
| Pitching note | Line |
|---|---|
| Angels starters since Aug. 1 | 2.91 ERA, 84 ER in 259 2/3 IP |
| Reid Detmers, last 12 starts | 2.05 ERA |
| Walbert Ureña | 2.74 ERA in 144 1/3 IP |
| George Klassen, six starts | 3.67 ERA |
| Ryan Johnson, last nine starts | 2.39 ERA |
| Grayson Rodriguez, last 10 outings | 4.12 ERA |
The turnaround followed the dismissal of the club’s pitching coaches and the installation of Tim Leveque as interim pitching coach, with Michael Wuertz taking over the bullpen on an interim basis.
Detmers has carried himself like a front-of-the-rotation arm since August and remains controlled by the Angels for two more seasons. Ureña, a rookie, has supplied a major surprise over a heavy workload. Klassen flashed ability before a back injury ended his season, while Johnson has finished strong. Rodriguez has improved as well, and veteran left-hander Yusei Kikuchi is still under contract for $21 million next season.
For a club that has spent years searching for dependable starting depth, the internal options are suddenly more plentiful. Prospects Tyler Bremner, ranked No. 2 in the system, Johnny Slawinski at No. 5, Dylan Jordan at No. 9 and Trey Gregory-Alford at No. 11 each had encouraging Minor League seasons.
Meckler found a place in left field
The lineup still needs work, particularly with 2027 approaching, but Wade Meckler has turned from a good local story into a player who belongs in the everyday conversation. The Anaheim native has brought contact and on-base ability to a lineup that badly needed both.
| Wade Meckler | 2026 total |
|---|---|
| Games | 93 |
| Slash line | .292/.368/.374 |
| Home runs | 3 |
| Doubles | 14 |
| RBIs | 27 |
Meckler still must prove he can produce against left-handed pitching, and his power output is limited. Even so, he has made a strong case to open 2027 as part of the plan in left. The Angels are expected to pursue another outfielder during the offseason, with a left-handed power bat a particular need.
Right field is less settled after Jo Adell was dealt to the Guardians. The club is also likely to seek infield help, but Meckler’s rise gives the front office one less position to solve.
Late innings remain the sore spot
The season’s most painful pattern has been the inability to close games. Los Angeles has lost 11 times after holding a lead in the ninth inning, tying the 2012 Brewers and 1978 Mets for the Major League record.
That ninth-inning trouble helps explain the 19-29 mark in one-run contests and the 6-14 showing beyond nine innings. The Angels’ minus-89 run differential points to a club closer to a 69-88 record by Pythagorean winning percentage, an indication of how many close games slipped away.
The bullpen and the offense both require attention over the winter. A reliable closer alone could have changed the look of this season’s standings. Still, there are useful arms to carry forward. Ben Joyce has stayed healthy following shoulder surgery, while rookie Samy Natera Jr. recorded a 3.13 ERA and struck out 48 in 31 2/3 innings before left forearm inflammation shut him down. Surgery is not expected.
Rule 5 right-hander Ryan Watson, along with left-handers Tayler Saucedo and Blake Weiman, has also provided solid work over the past two months. The final five games will not erase a difficult year, but avoiding 100 losses would let the Angels head into a busy offseason with one small bit of history still intact.
