Impact Drury hasn't played since last Friday due to a sore calf as a result of fouling a ball off the area, but he's fine. The 30-year-old is at first base and batting second against the Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
LOS ANGELES ANGELS 63-99 · 5TH IN AL WEST
63-99 · 5TH IN AL WEST
Brandon Drury - Back in action Tuesday Drury (calf) is back in the Angels' Cactus League lineup Tuesday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Sports on TV for Wednesday, March 22
Sports on TV for Wednesday, March 22MARCH 21, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Two Best Players in Baseball Finally Get to Play in a Game That Matters The WBC has done what in five seasons the Angels could not for Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani, and we can’t wait to watch.
MARCH 21, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
When is Mike Trout a free agent? Breaking down Angels contract and when he can leave L.A. Mike Trout has been with the Angels since his age-19 season and his contract makes that likely to continue long-term.
MARCH 21, 2023 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM
Shohei Ohtani’s ‘unicorn’ essence on full display in WBC
Shohei Ohtani is the brightest of baseball stars in the WBC. But how he comports himself off the field has made an equally big impression on...MARCH 21, 2023
Bill Shaikin: The first two stadium deals collapsed. Why would the Angels and Anaheim try again? The Curse of Harry Sidhu was born on May 24, 2022. That was the day the Anaheim City Council unanimously voted to kill a deal that would hav...
MARCH 21, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
It's the absolute, ultimate, perfect ending: Trout vs. Ohtani MIAMI -- It’s here. The matchup the world has been waiting for: Shohei Ohtani vs. Mike Trout. On Tuesday evening, the two Angels teammates w...
MARCH 21, 2023 • MLB.COM
Ohtani ready to pitch vs Trout, USA in relief at WBC final
That matchup between Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani in the World Baseball Classic may not happenMARCH 21, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Taylor Ward - Hitting well this spring Ward went 0-for-4 in Monday's Cactus League loss to Cincinnati, but he is slashing .333/.389/.515 with a home run, three doubles, six runs and five RBI over 36 plate appearances th...
Impact Ward is coming off a career year in 2022, when he slashed .281/.360/.473 with 23 homers, 65 RBI, 73 runs and five stolen bases. The breakthrough helped him become one of fantasy's top waiver-wire pickups, and he's typically going within the top 130 picks in mixed-league drafts heading into this season. Ward has a stranglehold on the starting job in left field for the Angels and had solid peripheral stats last season, so he could easily match or exceed his 2022 numbers if he's able to remain healthy.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Mike Trout - Playing well for Team USA Trout is slashing .318/.444/.591 with a home run, a double, a triple, seven RBI, four runs and a stolen base in six games with Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.
Impact Though Trea Turner has absorbed much of the spotlight for a United States team that will be playing in the WBC final Tuesday, Trout has been a major part of the offense as well, ranking second on the team with seven RBI. After missing over 40 games with a back injury last year, the future Hall of Famer appears fully healthy this spring, as he's one of four players on Team USA who has played in all six tournament contests thus far. Trout is still one of the best hitters in baseball, so he's pretty much guaranteed to be an elite offensive producer as long as he remains healthy.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
José Quijada - Returns from WBC Quijada returned to Angels camp Monday after playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Impact Quijada had a few big moments in the WBC, but he finished the tournament having allowed three runs over 2.1 innings. The left-hander is one of several Angels who has closing experience and could get a save chance or two with the team's ninth-inning role still undecided, though Carlos Estevez and Jimmy Herget appear to have the best chance of landing the closer job.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Chris Rodríguez - Set to face hitters Tuesday Rodriguez (shoulder) will throw live batting practice Tuesday, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.
Impact This is a major step in Rodriguez's rehab from shoulder surgery, as it will represent his first time throwing to live hitters since August of 2021. The right-hander has been tossing bullpen sessions this spring, but his overall recovery from the shoulder issue has been very slow. If Tuesday's session goes well, Rodriguez could throw a sim game or even make an appearance in an exhibition game soon thereafter, but it's likely he'll open the campaign on the injured list.
MARCH 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Ohtani, Japan rally in 9th, edge Mexico 6-5, reach WBC final
Shohei Ohtani sparked a ninth-inning rally with a leadoff double, and Munetaka Murakami hit a walk-off, two-run double to lift Japan over Mexico 6-5 and into the World Baseball Cla...MARCH 21, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Shohei Ohtani - Could pitch in WBC final Ohtani could pitch in Tuesday's World Baseball Classic against Team USA if Team Japan advances to the final, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.
Impact Team Japan manager Hideki Kuriyama said that it's a non-zero chance that the two-way star would be able to pitch if Japan was able to defeat Mexico in the semifinal. Angels manager Phil Nevin had told reporters that Ohtani was unlikely to pitch past the quarterfinals, but the right-hander hurler told reporters shortly after that a decison hasn't been made. If Ohtani does pitch, it likely would be a short outing; possibly as a relief option to close out the game.
MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
In Classic matchup, it's Fletcher who wins battle GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- It became a common occurrence late last season for Angels infielder David Fletcher and two-way star Shohei Ohtani to joke...
MARCH 20, 2023 • MLB.COM
Angels RHP Jose Marte (elbow) out at least 4 weeks Los Angeles Angeles reliever Jose Marte will be shut down for four weeks with a stress reaction in his right elbow, the team said Monday.
MARCH 20, 2023 • KANSASCITY.COM
José Marte - Shut down at least four weeks The Angels announced Monday that Marte was diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right elbow and will be shut down for at least four weeks, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Impact Marte had yet to make his Cactus League debut due to what manager Phil Nevin and Angels director of sports medicine Mike Frostad termed as "soreness," but the right-handed reliever is evidently dealing with a more significant issue than the team initially led on. Given that he won't be able to resume throwing until late April or early May, Marte will essentially have to complete his own version of spring training before being ready to contribute out of the Angels bullpen. Bollinger suggests that Marte is a likely candidate to move to the 60-day injured list if the Angels need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for another player.
MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Patrick Sandoval - Starting in WBC semifinal Sandoval will start for Mexico in Monday's WBC semifinal game against Japan, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Impact Sandoval will get a big spring test against a loaded Japanese lineup that will include Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani. This will be Sandoval's second start in the WBC -- in his first outing, he allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters in three innings against Team USA, who Mexico will face in the final if able to advance. The southpaw also got into two Cactus League games with the Angels prior to the WBC, allowing one run on three hits and posting a 6:0 K:BB over five frames.
MARCH 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
US routs Cuba 14-2 to reach World Baseball Classic final
Trea Turner homered twice to give him a tournament-leading four, and the defending champion United States romped over Cuba 14-2 to reach its second straight World Baseball Classic...MARCH 20, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
3 questions for Halos before Opening Day This story was excerpted from Rhett Bollinger's Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it reg...
MARCH 19, 2023 • MLB.COM
Japan's Sasaki likely to be coveted when available for MLB
Rōki Sasaki will pitch in a U.S. ballpark for the first time when he starts for Japan in a World Baseball Classic semifinal against MexicoMARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Luis Rengifo - Team concerned about WBC time Angels manager Phil Nevin expressed concern about Rengifo's lack of playing time with Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Impact Nevin's comments came before Venezuela was ousted from the tournament by Team USA on Saturday, but it remains to be seen if Rengifo's minimal playing time will have any impact on his readiness for the regular season. The infielder got just six at-bats during the tournament, collecting one hit (a single) and scoring two runs. Rengifo will presumably return to the Angels in short order and should have more opportunities to play as the team wraps up its Cactus League schedule.
MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Andrew Wantz - Favorite for final bullpen spot Wantz remains the favorite for the final bullpen spot on the Angels' Opening Day roster, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Impact There are seven relievers -- Carlos Estevez, Jimmy Herget, Jaime Barria, Aaron Loup, Ryan Tepera, Jose Quijada and Matt Moore -- who are seen as locks to break camp with the club, potentially leaving just one more bullpen spot available. Wantz appears to be the favorite for the opening, and he hasn't done anything to hurt his chances this spring, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings during which he's allowed three hits and posted a 4:2 K:BB. The biggest threat to Wantz's opportunity could be hard-throwing youngster Ben Joyce, who has opened eyes with a strong spring and a fastball that has reached 104 mph. While Joyce is the flashier pitcher, he's not currently on the 40-man roster and has yet to pitch above the Double-A level, while Wantz has two big-league seasons under his belt and was effective for the Angels in 2022, posting a 3.22 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 52:21 K:BB over 50.1 innings while picking up eight holds.
MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Turner's grand slam lifts US over Venezuela, into WBC semis
Trea Turner hit a go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning that lifted the United States over Venezuela 9-7 and into the World Baseball Classic semifinalsMARCH 19, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jimmy Herget - In running for closer role Herget could begin the season as the Angels' closer with offseason signee Carlos Estevez struggling in Cactus League play, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
Impact Estevez signed with the Angels in December and was tabbed as the team's potential closer by general manager Perry Minasian early in camp, but the veteran reliever has struggled with a 19.64 ERA and 10 walks over 3.2 innings this spring. Estevez and the Angels have indicated a lack of concern about his Cactus League struggles, but if the team ultimately decides to go in a different direction for ninth-inning work to start the season, Herget would be the logical choice to assume the role. The right-hander was effective as part of a closer committee after Raisel Iglesias was traded last season, tallying eight saves, a 1.10 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP over 32.2 innings. However, Herget hadn't saved any MLB games prior to 2022, so his sample size of success as a closer is relatively small.
MARCH 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
