Angels Name Opening Day Starter for 2024 Season

The Opening Day starter has been revealed.

The Los Angeles Angels have officially named Patrick Sandoval as their Opening Day starter. Sandoval will make the start for the Angels on March 28, when the Angels are on the road at the Baltimore Orioles.

While it appeared that Griffin Canning might get the Opening Day start, the Angels have decided to go with Sandoval.

Sandy's startin' 😤

Patrick Sandoval is our 2024 Opening Day Starter! pic.twitter.com/b4ybU0WiZx

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) March 19, 2024

Sandoval has had four starts through Spring Training so far, pitching 11.1 innings. In this span, Sandoval has allowed 16 hits, six walks, nine earned runs and two home runs. He's also struck out 10 hitters for a total 7.15 ERA. It wasn't the best performance in spring, but the Angels are taking a leap of faith to start Sandoval against a team that finished with over 100 wins a season ago.

The 27-year-old pitcher is entering his sixth season pitching for the Angels. He continues to earn more starts each year of his career in the majors, and will now open up the season for the Angels. Sandoval is coming off a season in which he started 28 games with a 4.11 ERA and 1.51 WHIP. 

His best season came in 2022, when he started 27 games and recorded a 2.91 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP. If he can return to that level of pitching or improve upon it, it would be great for the Angels. Sandoval has a 3.83 career ERA.