Bullpen Continues To Hurt Los Angeles Angels' Chances at Winning

The Angels are showing little promise eleven games into the season, with a number of key players on the disabled list and a starting lineup failing to perform adequately. 
However, the biggest and worst surprise of the season so far may be the bullpen. 

Their mounting inconsistencies have spoiled a number of quality starts, including the first two games played at Minnesota this weekend.  

Going into the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday night against Minnesota, the Angels held a 9-4 lead over the Twins. Coming out of the inning, the Angels found themselves down 11-9. 

Pitching trio Jose Arredondo, Scot Shields and Jason Bulger gave up seven runs altogether during the inning. Shields, a veteran setup man, especially struggled with his command, failing to get an out and giving up two run-scoring hits. 

Shields’ failure to quell a Twins uprising led to Bulger’s pitching appearance, though his pitching only dampened the Angels’ chances. Jason Kubel blasted a grand slam off of the right-hander, giving Minnesota an 11-9 lead.  

Saturday’s game proved nearly as painful for the Halos. Starter Darren Oliver pitched four solid innings, giving up just one run. But once reliever Kevin Jepsen took over for Oliver, the Twins managed to make another comeback against the struggling bullpen. Minnesota eventually routed the Angels, 9-2.

The Angels are used to having one of the strongest bullpens in the league, with Shields, Oliver and former Angel Francisco Rodriguez at the helm of the group in seasons past.  However, the loss of Rodriguez and addition of Brian Fuentes is proving ineffective.  Fuentes currently posts a 9.0 earned run average.

Not much better though is Shields, with a 7.2 ERA. Since his tenure with the Angels began in 2002, Shields has served as a consistent, strong reliever, capable of keeping leads intact. His current performance, however, jeopardizes the Angels’ chances at winning in close games.

With key bullpen members struggling, Mike Scioscia is left with few options. Among them is Justin Speier, who has allowed only one hit in three appearances and posts a 2.45 ERA. One trustworthy pitcher in the bullpen offers little comfort though. 

The starting rotation’s 2.11 ERA is the best in the league, but the lackluster bullpen puts this number to waste when hardly any of its members can be trusted to hold onto a lead and keep the win within reach.