PITTSBURGH — The Angels are trying to adjust the dial to get it just right with Patrick Sandoval.
In Sandoval’s last two starts, he has cut back significantly on his fastball use, and the results have been better. That might not be a sustainable model, though.
A day before Sandoval was set to take the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching coach Barry Enright said ideally they’d like to have him still be effective while being more balanced.
“He’s going to have to find the version to blend those two together to be his best version,” Enright said on Monday. “I’m very encouraged where his stuff is at. I’m encouraged where his confidence is leading. That’s more than half the battle, believing in himself. Then eventually he can obtain a better version of himself than he was in 2022. That was good, but there’s still a better version in there.”
Sandoval, 27, has been struggling over the last two years to live up to the expectations he set by posting a 2.91 ERA in 148⅔ innings 2022.
Over the last two seasons, he has a 4.43 ERA, including a 5.91 mark in his first seven starts of this season. Sandoval told The Athletic last week that a part of the issue has been how he’s been trying to change his personality on the mound.
Beyond that, though, there is the question of his raw stuff and pitch selection. Sandoval’s slider and his changeup both can be elite pitches. His problems have come when he can’t command his fastball, which doesn’t allow him to get ahead in counts enough to put hitters away with those other pitches.
Last week against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sandoval threw his fastball just 22% of the time. In 2022, he threw the fastball 37% of the time. Sandoval gave up two runs in five innings, but he also threw 102 pitches. The Phillies swung and missed just 10 times.
Much of Sandoval’s effectiveness was because of called strikes with his slider and changeup.
Enright said he liked the progress, but now is ready to see Sandoval take the next step, being effective with the fastball and the other pitches.
“He’s doing a great job of working on the things that we talked about on the side and in his bullpen sessions,” Enright said. “Eventually he’s going to get it in the game. I’m confident we’ll get there.”
HOT START
Outfielder Willie Calhoun had five hits, including three doubles, in his first 12 at-bats with the Angels over the weekend.
Asked to evaluate the admittedly small sample on Calhoun, Manager Ron Washington quipped: “Babe Ruth.”
Washington then said that he thinks Calhoun has a new approach at this stage in his career. Calhoun was a hot prospect with the Dodgers, who traded him to the Texas Rangers in the Yu Darvish deal in 2017. Since then, Calhoun, 29, has never quite succeeded in the major leagues as expected.
“I think the way his career has bounced around, he’s starting to understand that you’re gonna have to show it now, consistently,” Washington said. “Because he was one of those players when he came up to the big leagues, it was given to him because he was a stud. That’s what the reading was. Everything you read, he was a stud, and he got in his way. Now he’s older. He knows he’s got to get it done in order to get a chance to get it done.”
NOTES
Infielder Luis Rengifo was originally in the Angels’ lineup on Monday, but then he was scratched because he’s still having some symptoms related to the illness that kept him out of the lineup over the weekend in Cleveland. Brandon Drury, who has been in a slump all season, was going to be on the bench before he took Rengifo’s spot. …
Utilityman Cole Tucker was excited be back in Pittsburgh for the first time as a visitor. Tucker played the first four years of his major league career with the Pirates. He is close friends still with many Pirates players, including right-hander Mitch Keller. Tucker said that he was going to have to try not to smile when he faced Keller on Monday night. He was planning to get breakfast on Tuesday with Keller, who signed a $77 million deal in the spring. “I’ll definitely be making him pay,” Tucker said. …
Catcher Logan O’Hoppe returned to the lineup on Monday, two days after he bruised his hand on a foul ball. O’Hoppe said before the game he feels fine, but he’s still trying to get his swing back. After a hot start, O’Hoppe was 7 for 43 (.163) over his last 13 games. “Not where I need to be,” O’Hoppe said. “I don’t feel like there’s anything wrong. I can’t put my finger on it. But I do feel pretty convicted in what I’m doing now and feel like I’m definitely getting things back in order. But the past two weeks have been, I wouldn’t say bad by any means, but just not where I want to be.” …
Third baseman Anthony Rendon (hamstring) has still not begun any baseball activity. He is expected to be out for a matter of months, although there’s no timetable. …
Right-hander Sam Bachman (shoulder surgery) was scheduled to throw off a mound on Tuesday. Bachman’s rehab was interrupted briefly by a back issue. He is expected to have a rehab assignment of several weeks before he’s a candidate to pitch in the majors.
UP NEXT
Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, 1-5, 5.91) at Pirates (RHP Quinn Priester, 0-2, 3.31), Tuesday, 3:40 p.m. PT, Bally Sports West, 830 AM