Can the Angels Find Success During Their Three-Game Series with the Rays?
Last season, the Los Angeles Angels were an extremely disappointing ball club finishing with 63 wins after the departure of what could have been their future cornerstone in Shohei Ohtani. However, this season the Angels have surprisingly been on a solid start, going 6-3 in their first nine games of the 2025 regular season. On Tuesday, the Angels will travel down to Tampa Bay to begin their three-game series with the Rays. While the Rays are getting used to their new playing grounds at George M. Steinbrenner Stadium, Los Angeles could take the opportunity to continue their success and be on a positive path, which no one could have expected from them.
Los Angeles started off their season winning two out of three games against the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Cleveland Guardians. Against Chicago and Cleveland, the Angels dropped the first game of the series but were able to turn it around and pick up wins in the final two games of those series. For the Rays, they start off the new season 4-5, winning two out of three games against the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates, then being swept by the Texas Rangers. The probable pitchers for the first matchup between Los Angeles and Tampa Bay are two right-handed starters in Kyle Hendricks and Shane Baz. On April 1st, Hendricks received a no-decision after pitching six innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out four. Baz also had his first start of the season on April 1st. During a 7-0 win over the Pirates, Baz pitched six innings allowing just seven hits while striking out 10 batters in the win.
One of the biggest questions for this matchup is how Mike Trout will perform. The three-time American League MVP has played in all nine of the Angels games this season. In 32 at-bats, he’s recorded six hits, three home runs, and eight RBIs. The 33-year-old has been walked five times while striking out eight times thus far. With a .188 batting average, this hasn’t been Trout has taken lightly. He’ll look to continue his long reign of dominance and help this Angels team grow. The first matchup between the Angels and Rays begins Tuesday at 7:05 EST/ 4:05 PST.
