The Los Angeles Angels enter their May 14, 2025 matchup against the San Diego Padres with a 17–24 record and plenty of questions surrounding their ability to compete on the road, where they’ve struggled to a 7–13 mark and have dropped several winnable games due to inconsistent pitching, defensive lapses, and an offense that has lacked timely production in high-leverage moments. This series finale at Petco Park offers an uphill challenge for a team still trying to find its identity in the post-Ohtani era, and they’ll turn to Jose Soriano on the mound, a right-hander who has shown potential but carries a 2–4 record and a 4.00 ERA into this start, needing to be sharp against a Padres offense that has averaged 6.7 runs per game over its last 10 and thrives in front of its home crowd. Soriano’s ability to command the zone and avoid big innings will be crucial, especially with the Angels’ bullpen having been one of the more erratic units in the American League, often unable to hold leads or keep games within reach when starters exit early. Offensively, the Angels are led by rookie Nolan Schanuel, who has been a rare bright spot this season with a .258 average, six doubles, a triple, and a pair of home runs, showing a solid approach at the plate and the kind of on-base ability that the lineup desperately needs from the top half, but beyond Schanuel, the Angels have failed to establish any real rhythm offensively, with streaky run production and little margin for error when they fall behind early.

The absence of consistent power threats and a lack of depth in the lineup have allowed opposing pitchers to challenge Angels hitters more aggressively, leading to higher strikeout rates and limited opportunities to manufacture runs, particularly on the road where the pressure to score quickly has led to poor plate discipline and missed chances. Defensively, Los Angeles has not been sharp enough to compensate for its offensive limitations, with fundamental mistakes and missed double-play chances extending innings and putting unnecessary strain on the pitching staff, and unless they can clean things up behind Soriano and give him early run support, it’s difficult to envision a scenario where the Angels can contain a surging Padres team. While their 4–6 record against the spread in the last 10 games suggests they’ve been somewhat competitive, they’ve routinely fallen short in close games due to bullpen meltdowns, defensive miscues, and missed opportunities at the plate. For the Angels to steal a win in this series finale, they’ll need a nearly perfect start from Soriano, a timely offensive breakout led by Schanuel or a surprise contributor, and airtight defense that minimizes extra outs and limits the damage that the Padres can inflict in big innings—an unlikely but not impossible formula. If Los Angeles can put those pieces together and play a clean, aggressive game, they have a shot to salvage the series, but if recent trends continue, they’re likely headed for another frustrating road loss in what’s shaping up to be a long season.