Here are 3 Angels storylines for 2020 season
ANAHEIM -- The Angels are healthy and ready for Summer Camp to begin at Angel Stadium and Long Beach State’s Blair Field, with a report date set for Wednesday.
They still have their sights on a postseason berth after hiring Joe Maddon as manager and signing Anthony Rendon to a seven-year deal in the offseason. Superstar Mike Trout, coming off his third American League MVP Award, is set to lead the offense with Rendon and two-way star Shohei Ohtani, who is healthy and ready to serve as a hitter and pitcher at the start of camp.
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There are plenty of questions, however, so here are a few storylines for the Angels as they head into the truncated 60-game season in 2020:
1. Do the Angels have enough starting pitching?
The Angels were initially going to open the season with Ohtani not ready for two-way status and right-hander Griffin Canning out with elbow issues, but they’re helped by the fact that both are healthy right now and ready to go. Ohtani will stick to a schedule similar to his rookie year, when he pitched once a week and served as designated hitter three to five times a week.
Getting Ohtani into the rotation for the whole year is a huge boost, but it’ll be up to veterans Andrew Heaney, Dylan Bundy and Julio Teheran to round out the staff -- with the sixth spot up for grabs. The 60-game season means their depth won’t be tested as much as during a 162-game grind, so that could benefit the Angels as well. Maddon said he’ll be aggressive in turning games over to the bullpen, especially early in the season, since the relievers should also be more fresh.
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2. Will the shortened season help the offense?
The Angels have one of the older rosters in the AL, so in theory, the shortened season should help. The club won’t have to be as cautious with Albert Pujols at first base or with shortstop Andrelton Simmons, after his severe left ankle injury last year, or with left fielder Justin Upton, who received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right knee last September.
Rendon is obviously a major addition to the offense, and he should be available to play almost every day at third base. David Fletcher will move all around the diamond, seeing time in both the infield and the outfield. But the Angels should be able to roll out their regular lineup on most days, which should give them an advantage.
3. How will the bullpen look?
Closer Hansel Robles returns along with setup relievers Ty Buttrey and Cam Bedrosian, while Keynan Middleton is further removed from his Tommy John surgery and Justin Anderson is healthy after an oblique strain in February. Lefty Ryan Buchter is also likely to make the club, while others in the mix include Luke Bard, Taylor Cole, Kyle Keller, Mike Mayers and José Quijada. Matt Andriese and Félix Peña could also be in the bullpen if they’re not used as starters, and the club also has a few young intriguing arms in camp such as Chris Rodriguez and Hector Yan.
The bullpen was a strength last year until later in the season, and with a shortened schedule this year there’s less chance of burnout. Buttrey will be counted on heavily and is expected to fill the fireman role of coming into key situations to get big outs. And there’s no closer controversy, as Robles is coming off a strong season that saw him post a 2.48 ERA with 23 saves and 75 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings.