The Los Angeles Angels started the 2026 season by instilling some hope in its fans, but reality quickly set in after that brief moment of belief. Now, the Angels hold a 16-26 record heading into mid-May.
It may not be the worst record in the league, but the situation in Anaheim is bleak enough to land them the last spot in MLB.com’s latest power rankings. That’s no change for the Halos, who were also ranked 30th in the previous rankings from writer Will Leitch.
The Angels are tied with the Houston Astros for last place in the American League West division, but the Astros are ranked four spots higher. That’s a testament to one thing the Halos don't have: hope.
There is practically no hope for the Angels for the rest of the season. Other poor teams across the league still have at least a little room for optimism. For example, the New York Mets have the star power to at least turn around and become a decent team, and it seems inevitable that a team that’s been as good as the Astros in recent years will at least crawl out of last place.
The same can’t be said for this Angels team. There has been no success for the Halos in quite literally over a decade, with their last winning season being in 2015 and their last postseason appearance being in 2014. That one sweep in the 2014 ALDS has been their only taste of the postseason since 2010.
Unfortunately, losing is now the culture of the Angels. They tried to make some changes during this last offseason, most importantly bringing in former catcher Kurt Suzuki to give managing a try. The truth is, however, he was doomed from the start.
The front office in Anaheim hasn’t constructed a respectable team in years now, and the owner himself even admitted it wasn't a priority of his before this season began. Instead, they are content with making sideways moves that don’t move the needle and hiring new managers after a new manager to shift the blame onto.
This season, that approach has resulted in a middle-of-the-pack lineup, a mediocre starting rotation, and an absolutely brutal bullpen. Outside of their top guys, such as Mike Trout and Jose Soriano, the Angels’ talent falls off a cliff.
Another losing season is in full effect in Anaheim, and Angels fans are being forced to suffer through it yet again – and they’ll remain doing so until owner Arte Moreno stops being content with being last place.
