Angels’ MLB-Best Offense Led By a Star and a Bargain

Even with Mike Trout’s prodigious bat in their lineup for over a decade, the Angels haven’t won a postseason game during his tenure in Anaheim.

This season, the Halos (13-7) are flying high atop the AL West behind the league’s best offense in the early season — which extends from the three-time AL MVP all the way to the bottom of the pay scale. 

The two most productive bats, for example, are Trout ($35.5M AAV, 3d in MLB) and the less-heralded Taylor Ward ($720,000, 688th).

• The Angels lead MLB in runs (99), slugging (.428), and OPS (.761), are third in hits (166) and OBP (.333), and fifth in average (.253).
• Trout was limited to 36 games last season due to injuries but is batting .352 with five HRs and 10 RBI, leading the league in OBP (.478), SLG (.778), and OPS (1.255).
• Despite missing the first eight games this year with an injury, Ward is slashing .381/.509/.762 with four HRs, 11 RBI, and an astounding 1.271 OPS.

The Angels have reeled off five wins in a row and are six games over .500 for the first time in four seasons.

That’s despite the slow offensive starts of reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani (.238/.291./.400) and Anthony Rendon (.213/.338/.361) — which could explain why oddsmakers are on board (-115) with their first October appearance since 2014.