The Angels' bullpen faces a major test with Ben Joyce sidelined

It has been quite a while since the Los Angeles Angels have had a winning record. The last one came back in 2015, but is that getting ready to change this season?

They will be led by first-year manager Kurt Suzuki, who spent the last two seasons of his MLB career with the Halos. He will bring in some new decisions and thought processes that could help the team take the next step. 

There will be some new faces this season, as the front office was pretty aggressive over the winter months. However, the question remains whether they did enough to be competitive this year.

MORE: Mike Trout sets Angels all-time record on Opening Day

The Angels' bullpen faces a major test with Ben Joyce sidelined

Unfortunately, the Angels will be missing a big arm in the bullpen to start the season. Ben Joyce was placed on the 15-day IL in March. 

Last May, Joyce tore his labrum, which is not hard to imagine since the guy throws 105 mph. It cut his season short, and the bullpen will have to step up until he can return. 

However, that could be tough with what the Angels have left in their bullpen. Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly doesn't have a lot of faith that these arms can hold things down until the flamethrower returns. 

"Until Ben Joyce returns, though, the bullpen is being led by Kirby Yates, Jordan Romero and Drew Pomeranz, which alone might be enough for the Halos not to post a winning record."

Kelly does not have faith in the three, who have struggled in recent years. However, they do have some other arms that could turn heads. 

Brent Suter should be a reliable left-handed option for the team, and the front office is excited about Chase Silseth's potential. He should see several high-leverage roles in 2026.

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