The Los Angeles Angels are sitting at 56-90 and face the looming threat of the first 100-loss season in franchise history, according to CBS News. With 16 games remaining in the regular season, the club needs to secure at least seven wins down the stretch to avoid the historic low watermark.
Angels Battle Rockies and Athletics for Position
Beyond avoiding triple-digit losses, the Angels are locked in a tight race with the Colorado Rockies, who hold a 55-91 record, for the worst record in baseball, as reported by CBS News. Los Angeles also retains a mathematical chance to catch the fourth-place Athletics in the American League West.
The team recently captured its second road series win since the All-Star break by taking two of three games from Boston. That momentum carried into an Eastern road trip featuring a series against the Washington Nationals, who have endured a seven-game losing skid.
Yusei Kikuchi Anchors Rotation Push
Left-hander Yusei Kikuchi earned his first win in nearly a year during a recent start against the Pittsburgh Pirates, scattering five hits over six shutout innings in a 6-1 victory, according to CBS News. Kikuchi struck out six batters and walked three while missing almost four months due to left shoulder inflammation.
“Yusei was awesome,” Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said, according to CBS News. “He attacked the zone, he got to two strikes a lot, and the velo was there.”
Kikuchi is in the second year of a three-year, $63.7 million contract signed in November 2024, giving the 35-year-old left-hander a chance to finish the campaign on a strong note.
Nationals Struggles in NL East
On the opposing side, the Washington Nationals have dropped to the bottom of the National League East, sitting two games behind the New York Mets after going 0-6 on a California road trip against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, as detailed by CBS News. Washington manager Blake Butera was ejected in the third inning of a 9-2 loss to San Diego for arguing a check-swing call.
“Look, we’ve been going through a stretch, obviously, where things have not gone our way,” Butera said, according to CBS News.
Right-hander Cade Cavalli leads the Washington pitching staff as the team’s ace, compiling an 8-1 record and a 2.36 ERA across his last 15 starts heading into the weekend series.