Angels LHP Has Plenty of History Heading Into Sunday's Match vs Cleveland
Patrick Sandoval has been with the Los Angeles Angels officially since 2019 and every year that he has taken the mound at the big league level, we have seen improvements. It is not the easiest of tasks to be in the same starting rotation as someone like Shohei Ohtani but he has proven to be more than capable of holding his own.
Let's take a look at what he's been able to put forth in the 2023 season. Through seven games with the Halos, he has a 3-1 record while posting a 3.41 ERA and 1.24 WHIP. He is also third on the team in strikeouts with 26 and has allowed just 31 hits.
Sandoval is going to be huge down the stretch as LA continues to try and make their first successful playoff push in almost a decade. He is his biggest critic and usually always point out what he could do better versus praise himself after his pitching performances.
The Halos are in a very important series right now against the Cleveland Guardians as they try to get back on track after dropping two straight series against the Rangers and Astros.
And Sandoval will have a little extra motivation as he will face off on Sunday against Cleveland's Tanner Bibee, a high school friend.
"Angels left-hander Patrick Sandoval will start against Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee in the series finale on Sunday. They were high school baseball teammates at Mission Viejo and remained in touch after Sandoval was drafted by Houston in 2015."
“He’s a stud and he competes his ass off,” said Sandoval “He always knew how to pitch and once he got to college, he really took off. It will be really cool for us to play against each other for the first time. When I knew him, he was short, but puberty hit him hard. I just talked with him and he’s taller than me now.”
(Via OC Register)
This should be a good one!
