We’re still in March. And the Cubs are once again facing a team that only comes in once… and this time, a team from the West Coast. And after today, the weather forecast looks dicey.
So expect either a) postponements or b) games played in poor conditions or c) both.
For more on the Angels, here’s Jeff Joiner from the Angels site Crashing The Pearly Gates. Jeff also runs SI.com’s Angels site.
The Angels continue to be a franchise in flux; embracing a youth movement but not fully committing to a rebuild.
Zach Neto (SS) is the leader of the team in many regards and looks to be a cornerstone for years to come. Jo Adell cracked 38 home runs last season. Where the Angels youth is really on display is the rotation. Jose Soriano, Reid Detmers, Ryan Johson, and Jack Kochanowicz are all young and homegrown. The addition of Mike Maddux as the pitching coach could not have come at a better time.
Shoring up second base with the veteran Adam Frazier was a really nice move by GM Perry Minasian. Last year the Angels received no WAR at the keystone. The team also led the majors in strikeouts. Getting a steady veteran with a low K rate should help in that regard. Josh Lowe in left should strike out less than Taylor Ward did last year but he will also hit fewer home runs. Still, adding two lefty bats with solid contact profiles gives much more balance to a boom or bust prone lineup.
Mike Trout back in center field is making Angels fans nervous but the fact of the matter is they have no better option until Nelson Rada is ready. Trout is hitting 30 feet per second sprint speed for the first time since 2023 (before his knee injury) and made some swing adjustments that paid off at the end of last year. So there are reasons for hope on the Trout front.
As usual, the lack of organizational depth will doom the team to another losing season. The bullpen is already a bit of a mess. However, there are enough young arms on the farm in George Klassen, Tyler Bremner, Caden Dana and Trent Gregory-Alford to dream on a good, homegrown rotation in a couple of years. Bullpen candidates like Chase Shores, Christ Cortez, and Joel Hurtado could join Walbert Urena and Sam Bachman at the MLB level as soon as this year to shore up that unit.
The Cubs are the superior team and should win the series but will face the Angels’ two best pitches in Soriano and Yusei Kikuchi. Let’s just hope the weather holds and we get to see the full series.
Fun facts
The Cubs have played only 26 previous games against the Angels. They have played fewer vs. only three current teams: 25 vs. the Orioles and Rays, and 24 vs. the Athletics.
The Cubs are 16-10, a .615 winning percentage, against the Angels: 8-5 both at home and on the road. They have had more success overall only vs. the Athletics (.708), Orioles (.680) and Mariners (.643).
(Courtesy BCB’s JohnW53)
Probable pitching matchups
(2025 records for Cabrera, Taillon and Johnson. 2026 records for Boyd, Soriano and Kikuchi.)
Monday: Edward Cabrera, RHP (8-7, 3.53 ERA, 1.228 WHIP, 3.83 FIP) vs. Ryan Johnson (1-1, 7.36 ERA, 1.977 WHIP, 5.52 FIP)
Tuesday: Jameson Taillon, RHP (11-7, 3.68 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, 4.65 FIP) vs. José Soriano, RHP (1-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.000 WHIP, 2.81 FIP)
Wednesday: Matthew Boyd, LHP (0-1, 14.73 ERA, 1.909 WHIP, 3.69 FIP) vs. Yusei Kikuchi, LHP (0-0, 4.15 ERA, 2.077 WHIP, 5.45 FIP)
Times & TV channels
Monday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Tuesday: 6:40 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Wednesday: 1:20 p.m. CT, Marquee Sports Network
Prediction
This might sound familiar, but I don’t see any reason the Cubs shouldn’t take at least two of three here. (And maybe this time, they actually will do it!)
Up next
The Cubs have Thursday off, then travel to Cleveland to face the Guardians in a three-game series beginning Friday afternoon. The Friday game is the Guardians’ home opener.
