TAYLOR WARD NEWS

Improving Taylor Ward, Angels face Cubs again Taylor Ward likely will be in left field for the Los Angeles Angels when they oppose the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night in Anaheim, Calif

JUNE 7, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Homers in Tuesday's win Ward went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-4 win over the Cubs.

Impact Ward extended his hitting streak to seven games with his seventh-inning solo shot. In that span, the outfielder has gone 11-for-30 (.367) with three homers and six RBI. He had a three-game stint as the cleanup hitter, but he was back atop the order Tuesday with the return of Anthony Rendon (groin) from the injured list. Ward is slashing .241/.307/.366 with seven homers, 23 RBI, 32 runs scored and a stolen base through 58 contests. He can be streaky, but his place in the Angels' lineup will continue to lead to fantasy interest when he's hitting well.

JUNE 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Stays warm with three hits Ward went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Friday's 6-2 loss to the Astros.

Impact Ward has hit safely in four straight games, going 8-for-17 (.471) with five RBI in that span. While it was a solid game for the outfielder, the Angels struggled overall. He's been getting back on track after snapping a 2-for-26 skid during the latter half of May. For the season, Ward's at a .241/.311/.360 slash line with six home runs, 22 RBI, 31 runs scored and a stolen base through 55 contests. He appears to have regained the starting job in left field over Mickey Moniak, though Ward will need to show at least some steadiness at the plate to fend off further challenges for his playing time.

JUNE 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Another start in left field Ward is starting in left field and batting leadoff Thursday in Houston.

Impact Ward has homered in back-to-back contests and has now started four of the last five games in left field, with all of them coming against right-handed pitching. He could be regaining his starting spot over Mickey Moniak, who will begin Thursday's game on the bench.

JUNE 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers again Wednesday Ward went 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's 12-5 victory over the White Sox.

Impact Ward is now 4-for-8 with a pair of homers in his last two games after going 2-for-26 in his previous nine contests. It's been a streaky season for the 29-year-old outfielder after a breakout campaign last year. Ward is now slashing .232/.306/.356 with six homers, 31 runs scored and 20 RBI through 219 plate appearances this season.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Blasts leadoff home run Ward went 2-for-4 with one double and a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the White Sox.

Impact Ward was in the leadoff spot for Tuesday's game with Mickey Moniak getting the day off and started the contest with a bang, taking Lucas Giolito yard for a solo home run in the first inning. The long ball snapped a home run drought that dated back to May 2 (22 games) and marked his fifth of the campaign. Tuesday's outing was a much-needed spark for Ward, who was batting 2-for-26 (.077) in the nine games leading up to the contest.

MAY 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Retreats to bench versus righty Ward is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.

Impact Ward picked up starts in three of the Angels' last four games, but two came against left-handed pitchers and the other came Sunday, when Hunter Renfroe received a routine day of rest. With right-hander Michael Kopech on the bump for the White Sox, Ward will retreat to the bench while the lefty-hitting Mickey Moniak gets another turn in left field at his expense. According to J.P. Hoornstra of The Orange County Register, manager Phil Nevin said over the weekend that he plans to take a matchups-based approach toward his usage of Ward, who may be stuck in the short side of a platoon in left field while Moniak continues to make an impact atop the batting order.

MAY 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On bench to open Saturday Ward is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Marlins, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Ward will get a breather with right-hander Edward Cabrera on the bump for the Marlins on Saturday. Mickey Moniak will hit at the top of the lineup and play left field in Ward's absence.

MAY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back in leadoff spot Wednesday Ward is starting in left field and batting leadoff Wednesday versus the Red Sox, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Impact Ward was out of the lineup for the previous three contests while the hot-hitting Mickey Moniak played left field, but he'll return to action for this one with the Red Sox starting left-handed James Paxton. He did have a pinch-hit double Tuesday, breaking Ward's 0-for-15 stretch at the dish.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting third straight Ward isn't in the Angels' lineup for Tuesday's game against Boston, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Tuesday marks the third consecutive game that the slumping Ward has begun in the dugout in favor of Mickey Moniak, who will bat leadoff Tuesday. Ward will likely get the nod in left Wednesday against lefty James Paxton and get a few more chances to break his cold streak.

MAY 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

On the bench again Monday Ward is not in the Angels' lineup for Monday's game versus the Red Sox, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Impact He's been slumping lately and will sit out a second straight game as Mickey Moniak handles left field. Ward is hitless in his last 12 at-bats.

MAY 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Sunday Ward is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Twins, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact Ward has struggled over the past week and is currently in the middle of an 0-for-12 skid over his last four appearances. Mickey Moniak is playing left field and hitting in the leadoff spot against Pablo Lopez and the Twins on Sunday.

MAY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Thursday Ward is not in the Angels' lineup for Thursday's game versus the Orioles.

Impact It's a day off for Ward with it being a day game after a night game. Mickey Moniak is in left field and also batting leadoff Thursday.

MAY 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Ward will sit Saturday against the Guardians, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Impact Ward has followed up his .833 OPS from his breakout season last year with a .663 OPS through 39 games this season. Mickey Moniak was called up Friday and will make his season debut Saturday, leading off and starting in left field.

MAY 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Racks up three hits in win Ward went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs against the Astros in a 6-4 win Monday.

Impact Ward was a catalyst for the offense from the top of the order, as his base hits in the third and fifth frames each led to a score. The outfielder finished with his second three-hit game of the campaign, with his other such performance coming just four days earlier. Ward struggled through much of April but has bounced back in May, batting .407 (11-for-27) with a homer, five RBI and six runs through seven contests.

MAY 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Beginning to heat up Ward went 3-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI in Thursday's 11-7 victory versus the Cardinals.

Impact Ward led the charge near the bottom of the order, as each of the Angels' No. 6, 7 and 8 batters tallied three hits. Ward added a sacrifice fly to his productive day, and his ninth-inning double was his first in over two weeks. The outfielder went through a 1-for-14 stretch between April 26 and April 29, but he's since bounced back by going 6-for-12 with a homer, a walk and four RBI over his subsequent four contests.

MAY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Propels offense with three-run shot Ward went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Cardinals.

Impact The Angels tacked four runs off Steven Matz in the first inning led by Ward's three-run shot. It was his fourth long ball of the year and will hopefully bring him some confidence back at the plate after he's really struggled to get going, slashing .209/.318/.336. He has just six extra base hits to go with 13 RBI, 19 runs and a 15:27 BB:K over 129 plate appearances.

MAY 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ward's homer leads Angels to 5-1 win, Cards' 4th loss in row

Taylor Ward capped a four-run first inning with a three-run homer, Patrick Sandoval combined with three relievers on a four-hitter and the Los Angeles Angels beat St. Louis 5-1 to...

MAY 3, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steps out of lineup Sunday Ward is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at Milwaukee, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Ward was dropped from the leadoff spot to seventh in the batting order Saturday, and he'll head to the bench after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. The 29-year-old has a .132/.254/.208 slash line across his past 15 games, so a day off certainly can't hurt. Luis Rengifo will cover left field in his place Sunday.

APRIL 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Moves down from leadoff Ward is starting in left field and batting seventh Saturday against the Brewers.

Impact This is a drastic move, as 97 of Ward's 102 at-bats have come atop the lineup. He will head to the bottom third of the lineup with righty Corbin Burnes on the hill. The Angels will look to get him going with a less prominent spot in the lineup, as Ward has a disappointing .216 average, .325 OBP and three home runs in 27 games.

APRIL 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Taylor Ward is making strides in outfield as Angels beat Athletics It's not uncommon for players to keep baseballs from games they've played. Pitchers keep the one that represents their first strikeout, batt...

APRIL 26, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Knocks third homer Ward went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two total runs in Sunday's 4-3 win over Kansas City.

Impact Ward led off the Angels' half of the first inning with a walk and came around to score on a Shohei Ohtani sacrifice fly. Ward then went deep in the sixth frame to begin a series of Los Angeles back-to-back-to-back jacks. The long ball was the third of the campaign for Ward, with the other two coming in the season's first four contests. The outfielder had been slumping coming into Sunday, slashing just .114/.200/.143 with one extra-base hit over his previous 10 games.

APRIL 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Day off Saturday Ward will sit Saturday against the Royals, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.

Impact Ward finds himself on the bench for just the second time this season. He hasn't gotten off to a great start, hitting .228/.319/.329 through his first 20 games, adding a pair of homers and a steal. Luis Rengifo will start in left field Saturday.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Tallies two hits Tuesday Ward went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's win over the Yankees.

Impact Ward broke a three-game hitting slump by leading off with a double to right field. He would come around to score on a Shohei Ohtani home run and then later reached again on a base hit in the seventh. The 29-year-old got off to a racing start to the year, tallying 10 hits over his first five games, but is hitting just .156/.283/.178 in 12 games since. Ward has still primarily hit leadoff despite the ongoing slump and Tuesday's outing could be a sign of better things to come.

APRIL 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Receives first day off Ward is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox, Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register reports.

Impact Ward started the first 14 games of the season but will head to the bench Sunday while mired in a 4-for-24 slump. Luis Rengifo will move out to left field with Brandon Drury manning second base, while Zach Neto will take over leadoff duties.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE