LA Angels Stun MLB: Mike Trout & New-Look Roster Ignite 2025 Playoff Push in Thrilling Opening Series

The LA Angels have flipped their 2025 story line in less than two weeks, roaring from the bottom of the AL West to the thick of the playoff race behind an eight-game win streak that continued Friday night against the Miami Marlins. Powered by Yusei Kikuchi’s first victory in an Angels uniform (5 ⅔ scoreless, six K), the Halos improved to 29-23, tying Houston for the division’s second Wild Card slot. During the surge, Los Angeles is averaging 6.9 runs per game while the rotation has posted a 3.56 ERA since May 1. Historic five-man rotation • The Angels are the lone MLB club yet to use a sixth starter in 2025, rolling exclusively with Kikuchi, José Soriano, Jack Kochanowicz, Tyler Anderson and Kyle Hendricks. The last team to make it through an entire season with only five starters was the 2003 Mariners. • Manager Ron Washington credits the group’s length for easing the burden on a bullpen that carried an MLB-worst 6.48 ERA before the streak but has trimmed that mark to 3.91 in the past eight games. Offensive ignition Taylor Ward, Zach Neto and Logan O’Hoppe have spearheaded a revived offense with 14 homers in the last seven contests. Ward’s seventh-inning grand slam Thursday in Sacramento pushed the streak to seven and underscored Washington’s “never-out-of-it” mantra. Second-year first baseman Nolan Schanuel has joined the party, batting .345 with five extra-base hits since May 15. Trout tracking toward return Three-time MVP Mike Trout jogged pain-free this week as he rehabs a bone bruise in his left knee; the superstar called the milestone “no pain, no issues,” a sign that a June activation remains realistic. Trout’s return would slot him behind leadoff catalyst Yoán Moncada—another hot bat with a 1.017 OPS in May—further deepening a lineup already clicking at top-five MLB levels in runs and slugging since May 10. Bullpen help on the way Top pitching prospect Caden Dana was recalled Saturday for a long-relief cameo and could stick if lefty Jake Eder (Sunday call-up) shines. The Angels are also surveying trade options to offset the season-ending loss of fireballer Ben Joyce after shoulder surgery. What’s next Kikuchi’s gem set up Saturday’s nationally televised showdown with Miami, where Soriano looks to extend L.A.’s franchise-best May win streak and keep pace with division-leading Seattle. With Angel Stadium attendance climbing past 38,000 per game during the streak, the Halos are poised to turn early-season adversity into a summer surge—especially once Trout rejoins an already potent lineup and the five-ace rotation keeps rewriting MLB’s usage history.