Angels’ biggest flop to begin 2026 MLB season

There were incredibly low expectations for the Los Angeles Angels. So far, that has mostly proved true, as the Halos are 6-7 after 13 games. But they have been in the baseball news twice over the last week. First, Jo Adell stole three home runs in a game. Then, Jorge Soler instigated a large brawl with Atlanta Braves pitcher Reynaldo Lopez, earning a suspension.

Even with all that, the expectations remain low. The Angels have +760 odds to make the playoffs, according to FanDuel. So far, oddsmakers have not budged on the Halos, and there is reason for that. Much of their 6-7 record has been because of several factors. However, one major issue has plagued the team.

The Angels’ offense has been awful, again. Despite a few gems in the lineup, the team has struggled to score runs. Overall, it cost them the series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Angels’ biggest flop in the 2026 MLB season has been their offense, and there is a lot to unpack.

The offense continues to sputter

Adell has been the shining light in this lineup. So far, he is batting .320 with one home run, five RBIs, and five runs. While his defense has taken the next step, the offense has improved as well. Last season, he had a career season after batting .236 with 37 home runs, 98 RBIs, and 63 runs. Yes, his batting average was low, but the power was there. It seems like he is now starting to hit for contact as well. Yet, the rest of the lineup has not followed suit.

The Angels are 29th in batting average, 22nd in on-base percentage, and 25th in slugging percentage. Yet, the Halos are fifth in home runs and 16th in runs. For the second consecutive season, the Angels have been an “all-or-nothing” type of lineup. When the offense hits home runs, things go well. But when it doesn’t, it results in lulls. The Angels scored six runs against the Braves in the first of a three-game series. Then, they managed four combined over the final two.

Mike Trout is not what he once was

Mike Trout nearly sustained a serious injury, again. Sadly, he has not come close to the player he once was. Whether it’s injuries or other issues, Trout is not making the same impact in the lineup. Currently, he is batting just .190 with two home runs, three RBIs, and nine runs. Last season, he hit .232 with 26 home runs, 64 RBIs, and 73 runs over 130 games.

Trout’s batting average has declined over the last three seasons. Overall, he has not hit above .232 since the 2023 season. Trout has not played in over 130 games since the 2019 season. He hit .291 with 45 home runs, 104 RBIs, and 110 runs in that season. The Halos have not seen a version of that hitter in six years.

The pitching is not good enough to carry a bad offense

Jose Soriano has been elite to start the season, and has been one of the reliable pitchers on the mound. But no other pitcher on this team has come close. Reid Detmers is 0-1 with a 4.60 ERA. Likewise, Yusei Kikuchi is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA. Jack Kochanowicz is 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA. This rotation has not shown that it can produce consistent quality games.

The bullpen has been solid so far, ranking 11th in team ERA. But history has shown that eventually, the bullpen wears down when the starters cannot go the distance. The hitting needs to improve to give the Angels a chance if they want to make a serious push at the playoffs. Zach Neto, one of the top young stars for the Angels, has been inconsistent, batting .231 with four home runs, six RBIs, and 10 runs. Likewise, catcher Logan O’Hoppe is hitting just .219 with five RBIs and three runs.

The Angels need their young stars to produce to help Adell. If they cannot, then the oddsmakers will be proven correct, and the Angels will see another season lost.

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