There is extreme uncertainty over where the Los Angeles Angels will go, as the team continues to struggle to try and reach the playoffs. We aren’t very confident in the Halos’ chances of making it in the postseason in 2021.
Our MLB predictions show that the 2021 season will be another tough one for the Angels. The team has some quality players, but the weak overall roster makes it hard for them to be a pick for the coming season. It will also be hard to get excited about the pitching situation here.
Offensive Issues
The Los Angeles Angels already have two of the league’s best players in Anthony Rendon and Mike Trout. Rendon showed himself to be an all-class third baseman, as he went .286 with nine home runs last year. But the rest of the roster has too many struggles to note.
Shohei Ohtani is struggling to make himself out as a talented hitter, while Albert Pujols has been relegated to the bench. Outfield prospect Jo Adell has great promise, but he needs to build off last season if he wants to go somewhere and be a regular starter.
The Angels will have Jose Iglesias as their new shortstop. Iglesias came to the team from a trade with the Baltimore Orioles. Iglesias showed strong potential at the position with the Orioles last season, although whether he can continue that momentum in Los Angeles remains unclear.
How the Pitching Looks
The Angels don’t have many positives to spot in the pitching position. The Angels will have Andrew Heaney and Dylan Bundy leading the way, but the rest of the rotation doesn’t have much experience.
The Angels want to see if Ohtani can get back to pitching soon, but the team is not counting on this right now. The team will instead look at Griffin Canning and Jaime Barria to see how well they can compete this season.
OFFICIAL: The #Angels have agreed to terms with LHP Alex Claudio.
Welcome to the Halos! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/DZZ3vqaGId
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) December 16, 2020
But the Angels did acquire one of the better closers in the league in Raisel Iglesias this offseason. Iglesias had eight saves with the Cincinnati Reds last season. His arrival will resolve a bullpen by committee that had Ty Buttrey and Felix Pena and a few others competing for the closer position.
Where Will the Angels Finish in 2021?
We predict the Los Angeles Angels will finish the season in second place in the AL West. The talent is there, but the roster isn’t as deep as what you would find at the Houston Astros. The Angels have a top-heavy roster that has plenty of weak spots all around.
Will the Angels Reach the Playoffs?
We do not predict the Los Angeles Angels to reach the playoffs in 2021. The Angels have too many concerns throughout the roster, plus many of the top performers from the past season are too inexperienced to compete.
The reach question for the Angels this year will entail whether Mike Trout will want to get out of Orange County. Trout has been wasting much of his career on a team that struggles to reach the playoffs, and he may not be happy with his role for much longer. The year may also be Albert Pujols’ last season with the team before he retires, and a poor performance from the team this season may solidify that point.
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Image by: Keith Allison
