Angels relieve pitching coaches Maddux, Chiti, Scott of duties

ANAHEIM -- The Angels shook up their coaching staff on Tuesday, dismissing pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott.

The Angels named Tim Leveque as interim pitching coach and Michael Wuertz as interim bullpen coach with 43 games remaining this season. Interim general manager John Mozeliak said he made the decision after talking with manager Kurt Suzuki, who is on a one-year deal.

“After spending time discussing with Kurt where we are as a coaching staff and where we want to go in the future, we felt it was best to make a change,” said Mozeliak in a statement. “With seven weeks remaining, we plan to use this time to evaluate what additional steps are needed to elevate our entire pitching program and best position us for success moving forward.”

The Angels have had a rough season, posting the worst record in the Majors at 45-74, and their pitching staff has struggled. Angels pitchers have posted a combined 4.51 ERA that ranks as the seventh-worst mark in the Majors. And they’ve issued an MLB-high 508 walks this season.

The organization dismissed general manager Perry Minasian in late June and acted as sellers at the Trade Deadline, trading away players such as right-hander José Soriano, catcher Logan O’Hoppe, right fielder Jo Adell and relievers Ryan Zeferjahn, Kirby Yates, Brent Suter and Chase Silseth.

Leveque moves up from Double-A Rocket City, where he served as pitching coach. He previously spent the last 20 years in the Cardinals’ organization, so Mozeliak is plenty familiar with him. He was previously a pitching analyst in St. Louis’ scouting department in 2025 after working the previous nine years as senior Minor League pitching coordinator.

Wuertz has been with the Angels for 11 years and was previously the club’s Minor League assistant pitching coordinator. He was the pitching coach at Double-A Rocket City for five seasons before Leveque moved into that role this season. He also pitched in the Majors for eight years with the Cubs and A's, with a career 3.71 ERA in 414 1/3 innings.

Maddux was brought in to help turn around the pitching staff after success in previous stops with the Rangers, Cardinals, Nationals and Brewers. And while several starting pitchers like Reid Detmers, Walbert Ureña and Soriano (before he was traded) made strides this year, it wasn’t enough.