Los Angeles Angels: Starting rotation health is key in 2018

Over the past two seasons, the Los Angeles Angels have dealt with a massive amount of injuries to their starting rotation. Having a healthy rotation is key in 2018.

The Los Angeles Angels garnered a lot of attention this offseason after making multiple moves to improve their offense. Although these newly acquired improved players help the team out, a healthy rotation is a must for them this coming season.

Numerous injuries to the Angels’ rotation the past two seasons have led to a “what could have been” feeling. Although these injuries probably didn’t prevent them from winning a championship, they could have made a difference between them winning enough games to make the playoffs.

In 2016, the Angels lost Andrew Heaney and Nick Tropeano to Tommy John surgery. They also played most of the season without their ace Garrett Richards, while he underwent stem-cell therapy on his right elbow. And even toward the end of the season, they lost Matt Shoemaker to a skull fracture.

All those injuries impacted the club and led them to a 74-88 record. They finished fourth in the division and were hoping for health in 2017.

That health didn’t happen for them during the 2017 season. Last season, their rotation suffered an injury-plagued year yet again.

Tyler Skaggs and Richards returned to the staff at the beginning of the season, but they both suffered injuries and missed a significant amount of time. Alex Meyer sustained a shoulder injury, and surgery caused him to miss most of 2017. Shoemaker and J.C. Ramirez also had injuries that cost them to lose a portion of the season.

Even with these injuries, the Angels finished with an 80-82 record. They missed the second Wild Card spot by just five games. That leads to a positive outlook for 2018. If they barely missed the playoffs in 2017 with those injuries, imagine the success they could have with a healthy rotation.

Heading into this coming season, the Angels possess seven viable starting pitchers. The seven include Richards, Heaney, Skaggs, Shoemaker, Ramirez, Parker Bridwell and newly acquired Shohei Ohtani. They also expect to have Tropeano back sometime in 2018.

With all the Angels have done to improve their offense, that’s all for not if they can’t get healthy starters. With an offense that consists of Mike Trout, Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Andrelton Simmons and Zack Cozart, they’ll score plenty of runs.

But the offense is only one part of the equation. The Angels need their rotation to stay healthy and have a good year to find themselves in the playoffs again. Making the playoffs continues to become more of an urgent issue the closer Trout gets to free agency. Now, this is also a team that has made the playoffs just once since 2009.

Next: Player milestones we could see in 2018

Can 2018 finally be the season that their rotation stays healthy? If so, that’ll allow us to see the team’s true potential. With a healthy starting staff, the Los Angeles Angels should compete with the best teams this coming season.