The Los Angeles Angels are in complete free-fall mode.
After a hot start had them at the top of the American League West division, the team has gone on an 11-game losing skid that not only has taken them out of first in the West, but has also knocked them out of playoff position, with the Boston Red Sox taking control of the third Wild Card spot.
A big part of why the Angels are scuffling so bad is the slump that Mike Trout is in.
Things didn’t get any better for him yesterday, as he extended his hitless streak to a career worst 26 at-bats, as Bob Nightengale notes.
The #Angels lost their 11th consecutive game and Mike Trout’s hitless streak extends to career-worst 26 ABs; the #Phillies are 3-0 under Rob Thomson.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 5, 2022
Slumping Halos
It’s unlike Trout to struggle this badly.
But again, the Angels are really struggling right now.
There are a number of reasons why this team is on such a bad stretch, and Trout’s struggles is one of them.
When one of your best hitters goes silent, that can have drastic negative effects on the team.
The Angels’ 9-7 walk-off loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday dropped them below the .500 mark.
If they’re going to change their fortunes and get going again, the major key to that will be the production of Trout.
Trout is certainly capable of turning it around.
After all, he’s won three AL MVP Awards, and these took place while the Angels were not up to par.
If Trout turns it back on, this is a different team.
This team is more than capable of doing some damage and is better than it has been in recent years, at least on paper.
But Trout’s production will be the X-factor for the Angels going forward.
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