Angels' struggles continue.
Angels' José Soriano faces continued struggles as team hits break with worst record.
The Los Angeles Angels headed into the All-Star break on a sour note, dropping a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins and falling to 21 games under .500 — tied for the worst record in Major League Baseball. OC Register reported that right-hander José Soriano gave up three runs in five innings, continuing a troubling two-month stretch for both the pitcher and the team.
Soriano's ERA has climbed to 5.15 across his last 14 starts, a steep drop from his strong early-season form. Press Enterprise noted the loss capped another frustrating stretch as the Angels look for answers heading into the second half.
One Bad Inning Derails an Otherwise Solid Outing
Soriano was not dominant, but he was manageable for most of the game. The damage came in a single inning when the Twins pushed three runs across the plate. That burst of offense proved to be all Minnesota needed. Daily News reported Soriano finished after five innings, unable to keep the Angels in striking distance.
The Angels scored just two runs in response. That kind of offensive support has been a recurring problem in Anaheim this season. Soriano did not get bailed out this time, and the Angels walked into the break with a loss.
Soriano's Numbers Tell a Worrying Second-Half Story
Soriano entered the 2024 season as one of the Angels' brightest pitching hopes. His early starts were promising. But since then, his ERA has ballooned to 5.15 over 14 starts, according to Press Telegram. That kind of sustained struggle is hard to paper over, no matter the cause.
Soriano remains confident he can turn it around. "I have to continue working hard," he said, per Daily Breeze. He believes he can return to his early-season form. But with the Angels tied for the worst record in baseball, time and patience may both be running short.
Angels Tied for Worst Record as All-Star Break Arrives
Los Angeles enters the break at 21 games under .500, tied for the bottom of the majors. That is the team's worst point in the season so far. SB Sun reported the number reflects a franchise that has struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball all year.
Manager Ron Washington's squad has searched for answers without finding many. The pitching has been inconsistent, and the lineup has not picked up the slack. The All-Star break gives the club a brief reset, but the problems will still be there when play resumes.
Finding Bright Spots in a Bleak First Half
Despite the grim record, not everything has been lost. OC Register noted that manager Kurt Suzuki has pointed to moments where the team finds "holes in the ball" — periods of sharp, competitive play that hint at what the roster could be. Those flashes have been too rare to move the needle in the standings.
The Angels will need more than flashes in the second half. A 21-game deficit under .500 is a deep hole to climb out of. For Soriano and the rest of the rotation, the break offers a chance to reset and come back sharper — or the losses will keep piling up.
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