With John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Kelvim Escobar all starting the 2009 season on the D.L. the Angels were worried about their starting rotation. But, through the first four games Angels’ starting pitchers have compiled a 2-0 record with a 1.07 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, Nick Adenhart and Dustin Moseley all have pitched well this season. It will be interesting to see what the Angels do now that Nick Adenhart has passed on. The hope here is that his spirit pushes the other Angels’ starters to work as hard as he did when he was alive.

Darren Oliver has been very solid since winning a job in the Angels’ bullpen last season after being a sub par starting pitcher most of his career. Before he became an Angel he had pitched in 351 games (228 starts) in his major league career and he was 91-79 with 2 saves, a 4.98 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Since Oliver has come to the Angels he has pitched in 93 games (0 starts) and he is 5-2 with a 3.54 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has really been solid this season as he has worked in 32 games (0 starts) and he is 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Oliver has been a workhorse out of the pen for the Angels this season as he has worked more innings than any other reliever on the team.

24-year old righty reliever Jose Arredondo has been a lifesaver this season for the Angels. He filled in as the primary set up man in the Angels’ bullpen while Scot Shields was injured and he did a great job. He has pitched in 17 games (0 starts) for the Angels this season and he is 2-0 with a 1.40 ERA and a 0.72 WHIP. Arredondo has been throwing bullets as evidenced by his 19 whiffs in 19.1 innings. The Angels’ bullpen is devastating now that it’s at full strength essentially making you have to beat them in the first six innings of the game.

You would never know that John Lackey has missed most of the season with the way he has pitched in his first two games of the 2008 season. Lackey has started 2 games for the Angels this season and he is 1-0 with a 1.29 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. His velocity is there and he has whiffed 10 batters while only walking 4 in 14 innings. This is a good sign for the Angels as the rotation is very deep and talented.

The Angels appeared ready to stick a fork in Garrett Anderson after his performance in April but he’s started off May on a vengeance. Anderson has played in 10 games this May and he is 11 for 34 (.324 avg, 1.008 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 10 RBIs. His recent surge has improved his season numbers big time. Anderson has played in 36 games this season for the Angels and he is 35 for 142 (.246 avg, .697 OPS) with 18 runs scored, 5 homers and 21 RBIs. Anderson will continue to play everyday and bat cleanup as long as he’s swinging a hot stick.

Many thought that the Angels were in trouble when John Lackey and Kelvim Escobar started the season on the D.L. but Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders have both stepped up big time for the team. Santana and Saunders were set to battle for the 5th starter job in spring training but the injuries opened up spots for both of them and they seemed to relax and let their talent work for them. Santana has started 7 games this season for the Angels and he is 6-0 with a 2.02 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He always has had the talent but he had constant brain freezes when pitching on the road. That has not been a problem at all this season. Saunders has to be more fine than Santana because his stuff isn’t as good but he has really pitched well this season. Saunders has started 7 games for the Angels this season and he is 6-0 with a 2.61 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. If these guys both keep pitching as well as they are right now the Angels will have no problem winning the American League West.

The Angels pretty much have the American League West wrapped up as they are 89-62 which has them 8.5 games ahead of the Mariners with 11 games left in the season. With the ineffectiveness of both Bartolo Colon and Ervin Santana this season the Angels wouldn’t be where they are without lefty starter Joe Saunders. Saunders has started 16 games this season and he is 8-3 with a 3.82 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. In 96.2 innings this season he has allowed 111 hits, walked 30 batters and whiffed 60. Saunders will probably be the #4 starter in the playoffs for the Angels.

John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Francisco Rodriguez, Scot Shields and Dustin Moseley have all pitched well so far this season. John Lackey has been the anchor of the Angels rotation as he is 11-5 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP so far this season. He has allowed 107 hits, walked 32 batters and has whiffed 98 in 120.2 innings as Lackey has been the workhorse of the Angels staff. Look for him to have a good second half as he’s really looked good this season. Escobar is having the best year of his career right now as he is 10-3 with a 3.19 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP so far this season. Escobar has been really nasty this season as his stuff looks better than ever and I have a feeling he will have a strong second half as long as he stays healthy. K-Rod has been his usual dominant self this season as the game is likely over when he walks in from the bullpen. He is 2-2 with 24 saves, a 2.33 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP so far this season. He also has whiffed 53 batters in 38.2 innings which shows that he still has outstanding stuff. Scot Shields has been his usual outstanding self this season as he is 2-2 with 2 saves, a 1.70 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP. He would be a closer for most teams which just shows how good the Angels bullpen is. He has only allowed 26 hits in 47.2 innings so far this season. Dustin Moseley has settled into his role as the 7th inning man in the Angels pen. He is 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP this season. Moseley also could possibly return to a starting role if Ervin Santana and Bartolo Colon continue to struggle this season.

The Angels have an amazing starting rotation and it’s super deep. The main five (John Lackey, Kelvim Escobar, Ervin Santana, Bartolo Colon and Jered Weaver) are a combined 28-17 with a 3.94 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP. No one in major league baseball can compare arms in the rotation with the Angels as all five of their starters have #1 starter type stuff. It doesn’t end there either. If the Angels have any injuries they could bring Dustin Moseley out of the bullpen or they could call up their secret assassin Joe Saunders up from AAA ball. Moseley and Saunders are a combined 7-0 with a 1.79 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP so far this season which is amazing. If the Angels feel they need something to win the American League West they will have starting pitching to trade and other teams will be listening.

Dustin Moseley just takes the ball and get opposing batters out. He can start of relieve, but the Angels have been using him out of the bullpen lately. In 13 games (2 starts), Moseley is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP so far this season. In 26.2 innings, he has allowed 19 hits and he’s only walked 4 batters. Look for Moseley to continue pitching well as he’s a bulldog on the mound.