Everything seemed to be set up for the Los Angeles Angels to play postseason baseball this year for the first time since 2014.
Third baseman Anthony Rendon and manager Joe Maddon were lured to the franchise to bring some World Series pedigree to the operation. Shohei Ohtani was cleared to pitch for the first time since 2018. MLB decided to let over half of the league’s teams qualify for the playoffs. And most importantly, Mike Trout is still on the roster, and likely will be for the rest of his career.
Instead, after losing in extra innings to Oakland on Sunday, the Angels are in last place in the American League West with a record of 9-20.