Early projection for Angels’ 2019 roster reveals one clear weak spot

For all intents and purposes, 2018 is over for the Angels. With just over a month of action left, their record sits at 64-69. However, that doesn’t mean the rest of the season is meaningless. The month of September remains important as players come back from injury and promoted prospects get further evaluated when rosters expand.

First and foremost, Shohei Ohtani appears to be nearing a return to the mound after throwing a simulated game on Monday. Ohtani, who hasn’t pitched since June 6 due to a Grade 2 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, threw 50 pitches and felt good doing so. In typical Ohtani fashion, the two-way phenom hit cleanup later that night and smashed his 15th home run, showing just how rare his talent is.

Ohtani has exceeded expectations as a hitter, posting a 146 wRC+ and 1.8 Wins Above Replacement in 261 plate appearances, but a return to pitching would further enhance his value to the club. When he was on the mound, he ran...