The 2019 season saw the Angels deploy the Opener quite a bit after the Opener had been used a handful of times in 2018. The Opener was often used for RHP Felix Pena’s starts and for a handful of LHP José Suarez’s starts.

So, how did the Openers perform?

Openers

RHP Cam Bedrosian

1 Inning Pitched 1 Walk 2 Strikeouts
1 Inning Pitched 1 Walk
1 Inning Pitched 2 Hits 1 Earned Run
1 Inning Pitched 1 Hit 1 Earned Run 1 Home Run
1 Inning Pitched 2 Strikeouts
1 Inning Pitched 1 Walk 2 Strikeouts
1 Inning Pitched 1 Hit 1 Strikeout
W-L 0-1 ERA 2.57

RHP Hansel Robles

1 Inning Pitched 1 Strikeout
W-L 0-0 ERA 0.00

RHP Jose Rodriguez

2 Innings Pitched 4 Hits 3 Earned Runs 1 Walk 1 Strikeout 2 Home Runs
W-L 0-1 ERA 13.50

RHP Luis Garcia

1 Inning Pitched 1 Hit
1 Inning Pitched 1 Hit 1 Earned Run 1 Strikeout 1 Home Run
W-L 0-0 ERA 4.50

RHP Luke Bard

1 Inning Pitched 2 Strikeouts
1 Inning Pitched 2 Hits
1 Inning Pitched 1 Hit 1 Earned Run 1 Strikeout
W-L 0-0 ERA 3.00

RHP Noe Ramirez

1.1 Inning Pitched 3 Strikeouts
2 Innings Pitched 1 Hit 1 Strikeout
1 Inning Pitched 1 Hit 2 Earned Runs 1 Walk 3 Strikeouts
1 Inning Pitched
1.1 Innings Pitched 2 Hits 1 Earned Run 1 Strikeout
0.2 Inning Pitched 2 Hits 1 Earned Run 1 Walk
1 Inning Pitched 1 Hit 2 Earned Runs 1 Walk 2 Strikeouts
W-L 0-2 ERA 6.48

RHP Taylor Cole

1 Inning Pitched 2 Hits
2 Innings Pitched 2 Strikeouts
2 Innings Pitched 1 Hit 1 Strikeout
1 Inning Pitched 1 Walks 2 Strikeouts
0.1 Inning Pitched 4 Hits 4 Earned Runs 1 Walk 1 Strikeout
1 Inning Pitched 5 hits 5 Earned Runs 1 Walk 2 Strikeouts
W-L 0-2 ERA 11.05

ERA total from Openers: 6.83

The Opener worked pretty well when Cam Bedrosian and Luke Bard pitched even though that was a small sample size. Taylor Cole and Noe Ramirez had some good games as openers but had struggled at times when starting the game. So how did the Bulk Innings Pitchers perform?

Bulk Innings Pitcher

LHP Dillon Peters

5.2 Innings Pitched 7 Hits 3 Earned Runs 4 Strikeouts 2 Home Runs
7.2 Innings Pitched 8 Hits 3 Earned Runs 5 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
W-L 1-0 ERA 3.86

RHP Felix Pena

5 Innings Pitched 4 Hits 2 Runs/1 Earned Run 8 Strikeouts
4.1 Innings Pitched 4 Hits 3 Earned Runs 5 Strikeouts 2 Home Runs
7 Innings Pitched 3 Hits 7 Strikeouts
5 Innings Pitched 5 Hits 3 Earned Runs 1 Walk 3 Strikeouts 1 HR
5 Innings Pitched 4 Hits 1 Earned Run 1 Walk 3 Strikeouts
5.1 Innings Pitched 3 Hits 3 Earned Runs 3 Walks 8 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
1.2 Innings Pitched 8 Hits 7 Earned Runs 2 Walks 3 Strikeouts
3.2 Innings Pitched 6 Hits 2 Earned Runs 1 Walk 4 Strikeouts 2 Home Runs
6 Innings Pitched 6 Hits 4 Earned Runs 3 Walks 5 Strikeouts 2 Home Runs
4 Innings Pitched 4 Runs/2 Earned 1 Walk 5 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
5 Innings Pitched 2 Hits 3 Earned Runs 4 Walks 7 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
4 Innings Pitched 3 Hits 2 Earned Runs 2 Walks 5 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
7 Innings Pitched 1 Walk 6 Strikeouts
4.2 Innings Pitched 9 Hits 8 Earned Runs 1 Walk 5 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
3.2 Innings Pitched 3 Hits 1 Earned Run 3 Walks 5 Strikeouts
W-L 8-1 ERA 4.26

RHP Jaime Barria

5 Innings Pitched 4 Hits 1 Earned Run 3 Strikeouts
1.2 Innings Pitched 10 Hits 7 Earned Runs 1 Walk 1 Strikeout
3.2 Innings Pitched 9 Hits 10 Earned Runs 4 Walks 4 Strikeouts 2 Home Runs
4.1 Innings Pitched 4 Hits 2 Earned Runs 1 Walk 2 Strikeouts 2 Home Runs
W-L 1-3 ERA 12.68

LHP Jose Suarez

4 Innings Pitched 6 Hits 4 Earned Runs 3 Walks 5 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
5.1 Innings Pitched 5 Hits 2 Earned Runs 2 Walks 2 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
2.2 Innings Pitched 7 Hits 6 Earned Runs 2 Walks 3 Strikeouts 1 Home Run
2 Innings Pitched 2 Hits 1 Earned Run 2 Strikeout 1 Home Run
W-L 0-0 ERA 8.36

RHP Nick Tropeano

5 Innings Pitched 3 Earned Runs 2 Walks 4 Strikeouts 2 Home Runs
W-L 0-0 ERA 5.40

LHP Patrick Sandoval

5 Innings Pitched 3 Hits 2 Earned Runs 2 Walks 8 Strikeouts
W-L 0-0 ERA 3.60

RHP Trevor Cahill

4.1 Innings Pitched 6 Hits 5 Earned Runs 2 Walks 3 Strikeouts
W-L 0-1 ERA 10.98

ERA totals from Bulk Innings Pitcher: 6.79

The Opener worked pretty well for RHP Felix Pena but the other starters did not use the Opener as much so there is no data to look at.

The Opener did not work well for Jaime Barria, as he stated, “ It’s a different role. It’s not the same routine. But when I do start games, it’s worked out better for me.” when he was asked if he liked pitching after an Opener and Barria made it clear that he did not like it.

Featured Image: AP Photo/ Paul Sancya