Angels have underrated 2.88 ERA 'frontline starter' to help Mike Trout

Perhaps this is the offseason when the Los Angeles Angels make major adjustments to how the organization approaches free agency. 

With a new owner potentially comes new front-office tactics and beliefs. 

That would certainly be ideal for franchise cornerstone Mike Trout, who turns 36 next August. Trout's only postseason appearance of his career was in 2014, when the Angels were swept by the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS. 

Time is running out, but an improved pitching staff can help flip the switch as early as next season. 

With Reid Detmers emerging as one of the top starters in the American League, Los Angeles is likely thrilled that it held onto the left-hander at the trade deadline. 

But Detmers has some company in the Angels' rotation. ESPN's David Schoenfield wrote Thursday that Walbert Urena could be a "frontline starter" for the Angels amid his impressive season. 

"Reid Detmers has led the way, but 22-year-old rookie Walbert Urena has flown completely under the radar with a 2.88 ERA in 25 starts," Schoenfield wrote.

"The stuff is legit, with a 98 mph fastball and a terrific changeup. He's improved his walk rate in the second half, and if he continues to improve there, he could be a frontline starter." 

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Urena has walked 11.6% of the batters he's faced in 137.1 innings in 2026, but his 22.6% strikeout rate is a tick above the MLB average. 

His nasty arsenal could help the Angels win a few more games next season. 

Who knows if the Angels can pair Detmers and Urena with one or two solid free-agent arms and acquire some above-league-average bats to help Trout; there's a chance they could make some noise in 2027. 

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