The 2021 series on team offense continues with the the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Angels finished ninth in the majors and fourth in the American League in 2020 with 4.90 runs scored per game.
I am using RotoChamp as a source of default lineups. That Joe Maddon order is plugged into the Lineup Analysis Tool (LAT) using Musings Marcels as the batter projections. That information produces the following results (Runs per game):
- Best lineup: 5.44
- Probable lineup: 5.30
- Worst lineup: 5.02
- Regressed lineup: 4.79
The Angels play two hitters who are just head and shoulders better than everyone else in the lineup, Mike Trout and Anthony Rendon. The LAT puts them at the top of the order, partly because they are great table setters, but also to maximize their total plate appearances for the season. About ten years ago there was a Detroit Tigers lineup like this, where the LAT wanted to bat Prince Fielder and Miguel Cabrera 1-2. I like Trout-Rendon 1-2 better, because at least the Angels pair can run.
Note that the LAT likes to put Dexter Fowler in the third slot. It’s a reminder that the LAT gives the third slot little weight as far as runs scored goes. The two big offensive sequences are 9-1-2 and 4-5-6-7. David Fletcher, who is slated to bat lead-off for the Angels, also finds his way into the third slot, followed by default number two hitter Jared Walsh. The top four are fine, the Angels likely score more if the pairs are flipped.
This lineup doesn’t quite have the depth of some of the earlier AL team examined in the series. Part of that shows up in the high spread of .42 runs. Part of that spread comes from Trout and Rendon being so good that if you bat them in the wrong slots the offense really suffers.
Overall, run production should not be a problem for the Angels this season.
You can follow the data for the series in this Google spreadsheet.
Previous posts in this series: