The Los Angeles Angels enter Sunday’s series finale at Oriole Park with a 33–36 record and a growing sense of urgency after losing the first two games of the series and extending their road losing streak to three. The 2025 campaign has been yet another frustrating chapter for the Angels, who despite boasting power at the plate, have struggled to convert offensive flashes into consistent success due to a combination of poor situational hitting, inconsistent pitching, and key injuries that have drained depth from the roster. Offensively, the Angels have leaned heavily on Taylor Ward, who leads the team with 17 home runs and 42 RBIs, carrying much of the load in a lineup that otherwise lacks stability. Their .226 team batting average ranks among the worst in baseball, underscoring their feast-or-famine offensive identity that sees them depend largely on the home run ball—they currently sit fourth in MLB in total homers. While this power-centric approach provides bursts of scoring, it often fails against teams with effective strike-throwers or when playing in pitcher-friendly ballparks like Camden Yards, where run production has been limited in this series. The Angels will counter with Yusei Kikuchi, arguably their most consistent starter this season, who enters the game with a deceptive 2–5 record but a superb 2.92 ERA.

Kikuchi’s ability to work the corners, change speeds, and strike out batters has made him a reliable presence in a rotation that’s struggled with health and command, and his 63 strikeouts lead the team. He’ll need to be sharp against a Baltimore offense that, while inconsistent, has been opportunistic throughout this series. Behind Kikuchi, the Angels’ bullpen has delivered mixed results all season, lacking a lockdown closer and often faltering in tight late-game situations. Defensively, Los Angeles has been average at best, with several untimely errors this month contributing directly to losses, especially on the road where pressure situations seem to magnify breakdowns. The Angels’ path to victory today lies in striking early against Orioles starter Cade Povich, who enters with a 1–5 record and a 5.46 ERA, making him a vulnerable target for Los Angeles’ power hitters. However, if the Angels fail to capitalize on early scoring chances—as has often been the case—they risk falling into another pattern of late-inning scrambling that their pitching staff is rarely able to cover for. With Shohei Ohtani long gone and Mike Trout still recovering from injury, the burden of leadership and production falls on Ward and a supporting cast that must step up if the team is to remain competitive in the Wild Card picture. A win today is critical not just to avoid a sweep but to stop the momentum slide before it deepens further into their road trip. If Kikuchi can control the tempo and the Angels can produce with runners in scoring position—something they’ve notably struggled with—they have a realistic shot at salvaging the finale and restoring some balance to their increasingly unstable season.