Urshela went 3-for-4 with a walk, two runs and two RBI in a 13-1 win against the Athletics on Saturday.
Urshela played a major role in the Angels' 11-run third inning, singling as the second batter in the frame and later driving in two runs with a one-out single. The veteran has started at shortstop in each of Los Angeles' first two games of the campaign, going a collective 5-for-8 thus far.
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Angels' Taylor Ward: Plates four runs in victory
Rotowire
Ward went 3-for-5 with a home run, two total runs and four total RBI in Saturday's 13-1 victory against Oakland.
Ward batted out of the leadoff spot for the Angels and struck out in his first at-bat. Things got much better for him in the third inning, when the outfielder singled home a run early in the frame and later capped an 11-run outburst with a two-run homer for his first long ball of the campaign. Ward has gone 4-for-9 through his first two games this season.
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Angels' Tucker Davidson: Earns four-inning save
Rotowire
Davidson picked up a save Saturday against Oakland, hurling four scoreless innings during which he allowed three hits and one walk while striking out three batters.
Davidson will presumably be the Angels' sixth starter the first time the team needs a pitcher to fill that role, but with Los Angeles getting a day off Friday, the left-hander was tabbed to stretch out in long relief for his season debut. He got through four frames in 41 pitches (25 strikes) and looked good in keeping the Athletics off the scoreboard. Fantasy managers shouldn't read into Davidson's save Saturday as any indication of him jumping into the Angels' unsettled closer situation, so those who roster him for his potential future starts and happened to have him in their lineup this weekend should see this as a happy, but probably one-time, bonus.
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Angels' Patrick Sandoval: Breezes to win Saturday
Rotowire
Sandoval (1-0) earned the win over Oakland on Saturday, pitching five innings and allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out two batters.
The Angels staked Sandoval to an 11-0 lead with a huge top of the third inning, so the left-hander didn't face much stress in his season debut. The only run against Sandoval came on a Ramon Laureano solo shot in the fifth frame, and the hurler departed after that inning having thrown 86 pitches (56 for a strike). His overall performance wasn't dominant by any means -- he struck out only two batters -- but it was nonetheless a successful debut for Sandoval, who will likely face a tougher challenge his next time out, as he's tentatively scheduled to face off against the Blue Jays.
Angels' Anthony Rendon: Getting treatment on left knee
Rotowire
Rendon may miss Sunday's game against the Athletics after receiving treatment on his left knee following Saturday's victory, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Rendon crashed into the tarp during Saturday's blowout win. Blum reports that the injury wasn't considered serious, but the Angels may take precaution with the third baseman in the early part of the season. Fantasy managers will want to check the Angels' lineup before Sunday's game against Oakland before placing Rendon in their lineup.
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Angels' Anthony Rendon: Being investigated by league
Rotowire
MLB is investigating an altercation Rendon had with a fan following the Angels' season opener Thursday in Oakland, Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports.
A video has circulated around social media in which Rendon appears to grab a man by the shirt and exchange heated words with him. Rendon plans to discuss the incident Saturday, per Jeff Fletcher of The Orange County Register, and an MLB spokesperson indicated Friday, "We are aware of the video and we are now looking into the matter." It remains to be seen what fallout will come of the incident, but Rendon could face a suspension if the league determines one is warranted.
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Angels' Chase Silseth: Opening season at Triple-A
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Silseth will begin the 2023 campaign with Triple-A Salt Lake, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Silseth was unsuccessful in his bid to grab a big-league rotation spot with the Angels to begin the campaign, so he'll instead see his first action at the Triple-A level. The right-hander was chosen to be Salt Lake's Opening Day starter, and that assignment should come Saturday with Friday's contest rained out. Silseth got into seven major-league games last season and could be among the top candidates for a call-up if a spot in the rotation opens up.
Ohtani did not factor into the decision Thursday against Oakland, completing six scoreless innings and allowing two hits and three walks while striking out 10. He went 1-for-3 with a walk at the plate.
Ohtani was a bit wild in the season opener, throwing only 55 of his 93 pitches for strikes. Aside from that, the two-way star was as dominant as ever, racking up 13 swinging strikes en route to his 10 punchouts. Ohtani recorded 10 double-digit strikeout performances last season, and after leading Japan to a title in the World Baseball Classic this spring, he already looks primed to build upon the career-best pitching numbers he posted with the Angels in 2022.
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Starting in Opening Day game
Rotowire
Angels manager Phil Nevin said O'Hoppe will be the team's starting catcher in Thursday's season opener in Oakland, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Less than a week ago, O'Hoppe looked as though he would open the season at Triple-A Salt Lake, but Max Stassi's (hip) move to the injured list has not only freed up a spot on the Opening Day roster for the 23-year-old backstop, but also a perhaps a temporary run as the Angels' No. 1 catcher. Nevin hasn't outlined how he plans to divvy up the starts at catcher between O'Hoppe and Matt Thaiss while Stassi is out, but given that the 27-year-old Thaiss owns an unremarkable .291 wOBA over 278 career MLB plate appearances and is coming off a poor spring at the plate, the Angels may be motivated to give the younger prospect a chance to prove he belongs in the majors. On the heels of a poor season at the dish, Stassi likely didn't have much job security prior to getting hurt, so if gets off to a hot start, O'Hoppe could hold down the No. 1 gig for good even after Stassi returns to full health.
Angels' Gio Urshela: Will open season as starting SS
Rotowire
Urshela will start at shortstop for the Angels on Opening Day, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Urshela played only two games at shortstop with Minnesota last season, but he saw action there in 28 contests with the Yankees in 2021. The veteran will likely cede starts at shortstop to Luis Rengifo and David Fletcher (abdomen) occasionally, but he can also play all three other infield positions, so Urshela may have a near-everyday role with Los Angeles during the coming campaign.
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Angels' Hunter Renfroe: Ends spring with blast
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Renfroe went 1-for-2 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's exhibition contest against the Dodgers.
Renfroe hit the first of back-to-back homers off Ryan Pepiot in the third inning. The veteran outfielder's first spring with the Angels went well, as he finished the exhibition slate with a .289/.360/.600 slash line, four homers, nine RBI and a 5:5 BB:K. Renfroe will slot in as the team's starting right fielder after blasting 60 homers over the past two seasons.
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Angels' Brett Phillips: Nabs roster spot
Rotowire
Phillips appears to have made the Angels' Opening Day roster with Mickey Moniak and Jo Adell recently optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake, Rhett Bolllinger of MLB.com reports.
Phillips had a hard time offensively this spring, slashing .133/.235/.289 with 20 strikeouts in 51 plate appearances. However, both Moniak and Adell have one remaining minor-league option year, so the Angels ultimately decided to stick with Phillips as their fourth outfielder. The veteran slashed just .144/.217/.249 over 225 plate appearances last season, and he may need to show some progress offensively to keep a spot on the roster.
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Angels' Reid Detmers: Velocity still up
Rotowire
Detmers' average velocity on his slider in Tuesday's exhibition contest against the Dodgers was 90.3 mph, per Jared Tims of Talkin' Halos.
Detmers' average slider was thrown at 85.8 mph last season, so the increased velocity this spring is notable. The southpaw also has shown marked gains on his fastball during the exhibition slate, throwing it about five mph faster than he did last season. Detmers had an up-and-down campaign as a rookie in 2022, but he finished with a respectable 3.77 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 22.6 percent strikeout rate. If his velocity jump this spring proves to be sustainable, Detmers could take another leap forward this season.
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Angels' Max Stassi: Move to IL official
Rotowire
The Angels placed Stassi (hip) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
As anticipated, Stassi will begin the season on the IL while he recovers from the left hip strain he suffered while appearing in a minor-league spring training game last weekend. The Angels will have room for both Logan O'Hoppe and Matt Thaiss as the catching options on their Opening Day roster, though manager Phil Nevin hasn't specified whether the team will have the two work in a timeshare or have one serve as the primary option in Stassi's stead.
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Angels' Jared Walsh: Officially moves to IL
Rotowire
The Angels placed Walsh (head) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.
As expected, Walsh will be sidelined to begin the season while he continues to experience headaches and insomnia. The Angels haven't provided an estimated timeline for his return, and Brandon Drury and Jake Lamb will likely serve as the primary options at first base while Walsh is on the shelf.
