ANAHEIM -- The early returns on Reid Detmers’ move back to the rotation have been promising.
After striking out nine without issuing a walk in his first start against the Astros, Detmers followed it with a dominant showing against the Mariners in front of a sold-out crowd in the home opener at Angel Stadium. The lefty threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits and four walks while striking out four in a 3-1 loss in 10 innings on Friday night.
It wasn’t enough, with the offense recording just one hit and lefty Brent Suter allowing three runs in the 10th, but it was still an encouraging sign for Detmers.
“The game plan was to attack, and being able to command all my pitches was huge,” Detmers said. “Getting that fastball down and playing everything off that makes a huge difference.”
Detmers became the first Angels starter to pitch into the seventh inning this season and left to a huge applause from the home fans after exiting with two outs after giving up a single to Victor Robles. But Detmers said he was so locked in that he didn’t even notice the cheers as he departed.
The 26-year-old made his first home start since being converted back to a starter. He was solid in relief last year, posting a 3.96 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 63 2/3 innings. He struggled as a starter in '24 with a 6.70 ERA in 17 outings but showed plenty of promise early in his career, including throwing a no-hitter as a rookie in '22.
Detmers said his stint in relief helped him become a more complete pitcher, and it has shown so far through his first two starts. He turned in his longest outing since April 22, 2024, when he went seven innings against the Orioles.
“I thought he was great,” manager Kurt Suzuki said. “He was under control, executed and made pitches. Freaking pitched his butt off.”
Detmers flashed impressive velocity, with his fastball averaging 94.4 mph, which was up nearly one mph over his average from last year in relief. He used his slider, changeup and curveball combination to keep Seattle’s hitters off-balance, getting 14 swings and misses, including seven with his four-seamer, four with his slider and three with his changeup. Detmers said he was extra amped up because of the crowd for the home opener, but was able to lock in despite his excitement.
“The adrenaline was running or racing a little bit,” Detmers said. “Had to calm myself down after the first inning. It didn't leave the body, but obviously it wasn’t like it was in the first inning.”
But while Detmers had a huge night, the offense scuffled, as the Angels managed just one hit, a bloop single from Oswald Peraza in the third. Bryan Woo otherwise held them in check over seven innings.
The wind was also a factor, as superstar Mike Trout launched what looked like a homer off Woo in the sixth inning, but the wind kept it in the park for a tough-luck out. It was the closest the Angels came to scoring off Woo, as they didn’t score again until the 10th on a sacrifice fly from Jorge Soler.
“I thought I got enough, for sure,” Trout said. “I got it a little off the end, but I thought it was enough. It is what it is.”
Trout was also hit by a 95 mph sinker from Woo in the first inning after Woo went up and in twice. The two clubs have history, stemming from when Trout was hit by the Mariners in ‘22, and a brawl ensued the next day. But Trout said that Woo apologized to him in the fourth inning after he came across the mound after a foul ball, and doesn’t expect it to be an issue. Detmers threw inside to Julio Rodríguez in the next inning, but it appears things were settled after Woo briefly talked with Trout.
“He came up to me during the game and said it was his bad,” Trout said. “But any time you get thrown up and in and then get hit by the next pitch, you’re going to be upset. They’re going to try to pitch me up there. But he came up to me and apologized.”