The Angels have one of the highest payrolls in MLB — and a 12-game losing streak to show for it.
Los Angeles (27-29) continued its freefall in the AL West standings Monday with a loss to the Red Sox in Anaheim, tying their previous all-time losing streak. On May 25, the Angels were a season-best 10 games over .500 and stalking the Astros for first place — now, they’re 8.5 games behind Houston.
While little has gone right at the plate or on the mound, the struggles of Mike Trout have stood out. The second-highest-paid player in MLB ($37.1M) accounts for a staggering 19.5% of the Angels’ $191 million payroll (8th MLB).
- The three-time MVP snapped a career-low 0-for-26 skid with a single on Monday and has hit .114 with 17 strikeouts during the team’s slide.
- Since the Angels’ last victory on May 24, Trout’s average has dropped from .328 to .276.
- The Angels have been outscored 78-35 during the 12-game skid and seen their run differential go from +48 to +10.
Injuries to Anthony Rendon and early-season MVP Taylor Ward, along with a slow start by reigning AL MVP Shohei Ohtani, have hindered the run production — but the Angels’ pitching hasn’t been much better, allowing four-plus runs in 10 of the 12 defeats.
Bookmakers haven’t completely abandoned ship, but the Angels (+4500) still have only the 15th-best odds to win their first World Series since 2002.
