If you’re wondering how the Los Angeles Angels have only made the playoffs once since Mike Trout’s been on the team, look no further than this.
The Angels’ Opening Day starter for the season was announced on Tuesday, and it will be Trevor Cahill.
Cahill was signed by the team in December to a one-year, $9 million deal. The 31-year-old is coming off a season where he went 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 110 innings for the Oakland A’s.
Though Cahill is a solid enough pitcher, your roster is in bad shape if he’s your No. 1 guy, and that’s where the Angels are.
Shohei Ohtani is recovering from Tommy John surgery, otherwise he’d be their best pitcher. Tyler Skaggs is dealing with a forearm injury, though he’s still expected to begin the season in the rotation. Andrew Heaney also has an arm injury and will begin the season on the injured list. New signing Matt Harvey, Felix Pena, and Jamie Baria are their other starters.
The team’s pitching has not been solid — let alone good — since 2015. Locking up Mike Trout is great news that brings relief to the franchise over concerns he would leave. Putting together a much better team around him remains the real challenge.
