Angels, Mike Trout, Astros, Yordan Alvarez, Kurt Suzuki
Four games is a microscopic piece of a 162 game season but in the Angels case the four games in Houston do give us a good look at the team. Heading into 2026 there were questions regarding many elements of the team and some of those questions seem to already have answers.
If told the Angels would manage a 2-2 split in Houston prior to the series I think most Angels fans would take it. The manner in which the team won two games is nice. The two games they lost were due to long standing problems with the team that seem to have no end in sight.This statement is as much an indictment of 2025 as it is a compliment to the team early in 2026. After finishing last season as the team that saw the fewest pitches per at bat in all of MLB, the Angels are making opponents throw an average to above average number of pitches thus far this season. 28 walks through 4 games is a really nice mark for the Angels. If they can keep collecting an average of 7 free passes per game, they will lead the league in on base percentage. Expect that number to drop, but the approaches at the plate have improved.Mar 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels left fielder Josh Lowe hits an RBI single during the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images MLB teams averaged a little over 8 strikeouts per game in 2025. The Angels led all of baseball with 1627 K's, or just over 10 per game. 2 extra strikeouts per game means the Angels essentially gave away 324 more outs than the average team and it showed in their .298 on base percentage and 90 loss season. So far the team has struck out 46 times in 4 games. That is slightly ahead of 2025 pace and a clear sign the high scoring offense could head into a serious funk soon.While it is easy to point to Angels pitching as the culprit, the defense bears a large part of the blame when it comes to run prevention. Last season the Angels had the third worst defense in baseball according to the Fielding Bible. So far Logan O'Hoppe has been a disaster behind the plate and Yoan Moncada's miscues have led to big innings. Josh Lowe is rating horribly in left field, as well. It is early but whether you judge the defense by errors and fielidng percentage or Defensive Runs Saved, the Angels are already near the bottom of the league.Mar 24, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Angels manager Kurt Suzuki in the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Suzuki is a guy the players clearly enjoy being around but his decision making has been questionable at best in several key areas. On Opening Day he did not have a lefty ready to face Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez and hisBryce Teodosio is far and away the best defensive outfielder on the roster. Yet when Suzuki makes defensive substitutions he puts Teodosio in right field and moves Jo Adell to left, where he is well below average. The smart play is to put Teodosio in center and move Trout to left, but Suzuki does not make the smart play. Baseball is a lot like a series of blackjack hands. Each move you make or do not make has an incremental impact on your odds to win or lose. Throwing a right hander against Alvarez decreases your odds. Same with fielding a suboptimal batting order and defensive alignment.JEFF JOINER I'm a lifelong Angels fan who majored in journalism at CSU, Bakersfield and has previously covered the team at Halos Heaven and Crashing the Pearly Gates. Life gets no better than a day at the ballpark with family and friends.Top 50 MLB Prospects for 2026: Konnor Griffin, Kevin McGonigle Lead the Way
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Astros Drop Opening Day Game to AngelsThe Houston Astros lost their Opening Day game to the Los Angeles Angels by a score of 3-0. The defensive game did not have a score until the seventh
Read more »
Houston sports suffers double defeat: Astros fall to Angels, Houston Cougars eliminated from NCAA TournamentIt was a rare 'double loss' day for the City of Champions. From a stagnant offense at Daikin Park to a physical exit at the Toyota Center, we recap the two major losses for Houston sports fans.
Read more »
Angels vs Astros Prediction, Odds & Home Run Pick for Today's MLB GameKrest's Prediction: Expect Yordan Alvarez to lead Houston to victory.
Read more »
Trout, Lowe and Neto homer in Angels 6-2 win over AstrosMike Trout, Josh Lowe and Zach Neto hit home runs and the Los Angeles Angels beat the Houston Astros 6-2 on Friday night.
Read more »
Angels squander 6-run lead in loss to AstrosThe Angels surrender eight unearned runs in the sixth inning after taking a six-run lead in the fifth, falling 11-9 despite homers by Jorge Soler and Oswald Peraza. Mike Trout continues his hot start with an RBI and two walks.
Read more »
Correa, Paredes fuel 8-run inning in Astros 11-9 comeback victory over AngelsCarlos Correa and Isaac Paredes drove in two runs apiece and sparked an eight-run sixth inning for the Houston Astros in an 11-9 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night.
Read more »