ANAHEIM -- The Angels made two critical decisions with Reid Detmers under two different general managers this season, and it looks like they made the right choice in both making him a starting pitcher again and not moving him ahead of the Aug. 3 Trade Deadline.
Detmers has had a breakout year in his return to the rotation, especially in the second half, and kept it going with another stellar outing in an eventual 5-3 loss to the Phillies in the series opener on Friday night at Angel Stadium. The left-hander went six innings, allowing just one run on eight hits with no walks to lower his ERA to 3.54 in 27 starts this season.
But he was stuck with another tough-luck no-decision after closer Ben Joyce loaded the bases in the ninth and Sammy Peralta served up a go-ahead grand slam to pinch-hitter Edmundo Sosa. It marked the 11th time the Angels have lost this season despite having a lead heading into the ninth inning.
“It's definitely not good, but at the same time, these guys are resilient,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “After those couple tough losses against Cleveland, we came back out today and had another chance to win. We also brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, so they never give up.”
Detmers has been even better in eight outings since the All-Star break, posting a 1.55 ERA with 51 strikeouts and nine walks in 46 1/3 innings. The improvement has come after Detmers reincorporated using TrackMan to analyze his bullpen sessions in between starts, which is something championed by the club’s new pitching coaches.
His slider wasn’t as sharp as usual on Friday, but he still came away mostly pleased with his outing.
“I felt good,” Detmers said. “I didn't think my slider was quite there tonight, but I managed to get through six. All the pitches felt pretty good, and I gave the team a chance to win.”
The 27-year-old was effective as a reliever last year, with a 3.96 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings, but former general manager Perry Minasian and his staff decided to revert him to starting after his initial success in 2022-23 before struggling with a 6.70 ERA in 2024.
It’s worked out, as Detmers has been a solid starter and remains under team control for two more seasons after 2026. It’s a reason why he was sought by several clubs at the Trade Deadline, only for interim general manager John Mozeliak to trade seven players but ultimately hold onto Detmers.
He looked in control from the opening frame, as he faced the minimum through the first three innings, getting helped by a double play in the second. In the fourth, he ran into some trouble after giving up consecutive singles to Trea Turner and Bryce Harper, but was again aided by a double play -- although this one was a bit more painful. Luis Arraez ripped a line drive that hit off Detmers’ upper back, but ricocheted right to Zach Neto at shortstop for an untraditional 1-4 double play.
“It got me in the back of the shoulder,” Detmers said. “I'm fine. I'm not too worried about it.”
He came back out for the fifth, but surrendered back-to-back singles to Alec Bohm and Bryan De La Cruz to find himself in another jam. He nearly got out of it before giving up a run on a two-out bunt single from Derek Hill. Vaughn Grissom broke to field the bunt instead of staying at first, leading to a frustrating play that also led to Detmers’ scoreless streak ending at 20 innings.
Detmers pitched around a two-out single from Arraez in the sixth to finish his night after having thrown 86 pitches, with 60 going for strikes. He only struck out two, but he still ranks fourth in the AL with 174 strikeouts in 155 innings this year.
The Angels haven’t been able to give him much run support, but the offense struck for three early runs against right-hander Andrew Painter in the first. Wade Meckler, in his return from the seven-day concussion list, had a key RBI single. He also later made a spectacular play to rob Bryson Stott of a potential go-ahead three-run homer with a leaping catch into the stands in the ninth, only for Sosa to deliver the crushing blow two batters later.
“Definitely tough,” Suzuki said. “What a play by Meckler, right? Unbelievable play. And just an off night for Ben, but all the confidence in the world in him. It's just one of those nights.”