The Los Angeles Angels are 3-9 since the trade deadline passed.
This time, however, it’s not the front office’s fault: they did their job and brought in several impact players to aid the Angels’ playoff push.
They traded for Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo López, C.J. Cron, Randal Grichuk, and Dominic Leone.
That’s quite a deadline haul.
Unfortunately, the Angels went on to lose seven straight after the deadline.
They won on Sunday, though, against a difficult foe: the Houston Astros.
At this point, most people around the Angels (from the front office to players and media members) know that making the playoffs is unlikely.
It’s far from impossible, though.
“The Angels beat the Astros 2-1, and finish the season series 4-9 against Houston. There are 43 games left in the season, and the Angels are 6.5 games out of the third WC,” Angels insider Sam Blum tweeted.
The Angels beat the Astros 2-1, and finish the season series 4-9 against Houston.
There are 43 games left in the season, and the Angels are 6.5 games out of the third WC.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) August 13, 2023
6.5 games behind the last Wild Card spot is a significant deficit to overcome, especially considering that there are three additional teams the Angels need to leapfrog before even thinking about the third Wild Card: the Seattle Mariners, the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees.
It’s certainly not impossible, though, although the Angels would need to start stringing together victories as soon as possible.
They need to win as many games as they can and start hoping for the three aforementioned teams and the Toronto Blue Jays (the owners of that third and final Wild Card) to lose lots of contests.
The Angels are motivated to give Shohei Ohtani a taste of postseason baseball.
There is a sense of urgency among all those involved with the franchise.
Will they be able to achieve their objective?
NEXT: Shohei Ohtani Shared A Comment Proving His Elite Expectations
