With a 24-15 record, the Los Angeles Angels are second in the AL West behind the red-hot Houston Astros.
The teams are separated by just one game, though, so they are really close in the standings.
To the contrary of what happened in the last decade, the two squads are definitely close in true talent level.
The Angels have last year’s MVP Shohei Ohtani and other talented hitters in their offense, such as Anthony Rendon, Jared Walsh, and of course, Mike Trout.
Trout is, not surprisingly, dominating in the early going, with a .325/.440/.684 line and a 1.123 OPS in the early going.
But one of his teammates have been playing better than him, and it’s not Ohtani.
Wait, really?
Is that possible?
“Mike Trout (2.7 WAR) & Taylor Ward (2.5 WAR) are the best 1-2 punch in MLB. AVG – Ward: .376 (1st), Trout: .325 (9th). OBP – Ward: .484 (1st), Trout: .440 (2nd). SLG – Ward: .733 (1st), Trout: .684 (3rd). OPS – Ward: 1.217 (1st), Trout: 1.124 (2nd). Do you disagree?” AngelsWin.com tweeted.
Mike Trout (2.7 WAR) & Taylor Ward (2.5 WAR) are the best 1-2 punch in MLB.
AVG – Ward: .376 (1st), Trout: .325 (9th)
OBP – Ward: .484 (1st), Trout: .440 (2nd)
SLG – Ward: .733 (1st), Trout: .684 (3rd)
OPS – Ward: 1.217 (1st), Trout: 1.124 (2nd)
Do you disagree?#GoHalos pic.twitter.com/Cobf4sfwRd
— AngelsWin.com (@AngelsWin) May 18, 2022
An Incredible One-Two Punch
If we may answer (we were directly asked, anyway!) we say we would definitely agree.
Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton are looking good in the New York Yankees, and Manny Machado and Eric Hosmer have done a terrific job in the San Diego Padres.
However, Trout and Ward have taken the league by storm.
Ward is slashing .376/.484/.733 with a 1.216 OPS.
Offensively, he has been better than Trout!
In the overall package, which would be WAR in this case, Trout is still a bit better, but Ward is right behind him and has been a force with the bat.
It has been one of the most shocking developments of the 2022 season, but the Angels certainly aren’t complaining.
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