The Angels 2019′ season saw their pitching staff as a whole log a team ERA of 5.12. That ERA was the third-highest total in club history with only the 1994′ (5.42) and 1996′ (5.86) teams having a higher ERA.
However, there was a big difference between the 2019 team and those other teams. This Angels staff had only 1 pitcher throw more than 100 innings and that was RHP Trevor Cahill (102.1 IP). After Cahill, the next closest person to throwing more than 100 innings was RHP Felix Pena (96.1), who tore his ACL in Early-August.
The numbers are a bit skewed for the 94′ season as they only played 114 games due to a strike that shortened the season. Therefore that team finished in 4th in the American League West with a 47-68 record. That 94′ season saw 4 different pitchers throw more than 100 innings for the big league club, but finished with an ERA of 5.42. LHP Chuck Finley (183.1), LHP Mark Langston (119.1), RHP Phil Leftwich (114), and LHP Brian Anderson all threw more than 100 innings in a season that was less than 115 games.
The 1996 season saw the Angels finish in 4th place in the AL West with a 70-91 record. This club saw the team have a franchise-worst ERA of 5.86 and 5 pitchers throw more than 100 innings. LHP Chuck Finley (238), RHP Shawn Boskie (189.1), LHP Jim Abbott (142), RHP Jason Grimsley (130.1), and LHP Mark Langston (123.1).
The 2019 season was a tough one for the Angels not only due to injuries, but there was a tough task of playing after Tyler Skaggs tragically passed away on June 1st. The Angels starting staff saw inconsistency, rookies, and plenty of injuries go on in the 2019 season. The two main off-season additions in RHP Matt Harvey (59.2) and RHP Trevor Cahill (102.1) saw inconsistency for both and saw Harvey released and Cahill moved to the bullpen. Cahill, as mentioned before was, unfortunately, the only member of the Angels pitching staff to throw more than 100 innings and he barely passed that mark.
Other pitchers that had pitched in the big leagues prior to the 19′ season saw LHP Andrew Heaney (95.1), RHP Jaime Barria (82.2), LHP Tyler Skaggs (79.2), LHP Dillon Peters (72), RHP Felix Pena (96.1), RHP Chris Stratton (29.1) and RHP Nick Tropeano (13.2) all contribute to the rotation. The inconsistency and injuries to the names mentioned above led to the MLB debuts of top pitching prospects RHP Griffin Canning (90.1), Jose Suarez (81), and Patrick Sandoval (39.1) all likely a little too soon.
The Angels heading into the 2020 season have Andrew Heaney, Jaime Barria, Dillon Peters, Felix Pena, Griffin Canning, Jose Suarez, and Patrick Sandoval all under contract for next season and all will likely see action at some point during the 2020 season.
Featured Image: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell
