Angels' Pitchers Fantasy Baseball Preview | Yusei Kikuchi, Kenley Jansen, Jose Soriano, Ben Joyce, Tyler Anderson and More

Let's wrap up the Los Angeles Angels fantasy team preview by looking at the team's pitching. We looked at hitting in another story.

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Top Fantasy Pitchers

There's a few LA pitchers on the ADP list right now.

Yusei Kikuchi is the first pitcher listed, going at pick 143.96 on average. Reliever Ben Joyce is going at pick 167.33, while closer option Kenley Jansen is at pick 185.4.

Kikuchi joins the Angels after spending the 2024 season with the Blue Jays and Astros.

In 32 starts last season, Kikuchi went 9-10 with a 4.05 ERA. His fantasy value comes in strikeouts - he had 206 over 175 2/3 innings. 

Kikuchi is going to be the team's opening day starter and should be able to put up similar numbers to 2024. He's not a must-own in standard leagues, but I wouldn't mind picking him around his ADP in case he excels with LA. He might eventually just be a standard league streaming option though.

Joyce looked like he might be the Angels' closer until the team signed Jansen in February.

In 54 games with Boston last season, Jansen had a 4-2 record and 3.29 ERA. He claimed 27 saves and struck out 62 batters over 54 2/3 innings.

Joyce appeared in 31 games for LA last season, going 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA. He struck out 33 batters over 34 2/3 innings, while also claiming four saves.

On a retooling team, I thought Joyce was a fine option to close games, but LA had other plans. Jansen is the Angels' reliever to target late in standard league drafts, but I think I'd rather pick him up on waivers if he's performing well.

Having Jansen close might actually benefit Joyce, who could be deployed as a multi-inning stopper. Getting in more innings could offset the saves he would have got, and Joyce might have the chance for a few wins to go along with his good strikeout numbers. I'd only want to roster him in deeper leagues though - if my prediction comes true, then he can be added in standard leagues.

Other Starting Options

According to FanGraphs, Jose Soriano, Tyler Anderson, Kyle Hendricks and Reid Detmers are the team's other projected starting pitchers.

Soriano made 20 starts across 22 appearances for LA in 2024. He went 6-7 with a 3.42 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 113 innings. He's a better deep-league option, but has standard league streaming potential in the right matchups.

Anderson's 10-15 record in 2024 doesn't look great, but his 3.81 ERA isn't too shabby. He made 31 starts, covering 179 1/3 innings and striking out 142 batters. Anderson is a better deep-league option, but also could be streamed in standard leagues.

Hendricks joins the Angels after spending the first 11 years of his career with the Cubs. In 24 starts and 29 appearances last season, Hendricks went 4-12 with a 5.92 ERA. He struck out 87 batters over 130 2/3 innings. He has bounceback potential and streaming potential, but is a better deep-league option as well right now.

Detmers has taken steps back since a good season in 2022. In 17 starts in 2024, he went 4-9 with a 6.70 ERA. Detmers struck out 109 batters over 87 1/3 innings. As long as he can stick in the rotation, he's another deep-league asset and standard league streaming option. I think he will bounce back in a big way and becomes a keeper in all leagues by the end of the season.

Garrett McDaniels is the projected long reliever for LA. Brock Burke, Ryan Zeferjahn, Jose Quijada, Hans Crouse and Jose Suarez are the other projected bullpen arms.

McDaniels was a Rule 5 draft pick this offseason, and has not pitched in the big leagues yet. He has a 3.22 ERA across 92 1/3 minor league innings, but won't have a ton of fantasy value in a long relief role. He could be a streaming option if he ever gets a spot start though.

I don't see any other LA relievers being big-time fantasy assets. It would take an injury to Jansen, and maybe Joyce too, for anyone to step into the closer role. 

Top Prospects

Caden Dana is the No. 77 overall prospect in the MLB and has a 2025 ETA. 

Dana made three MLB starts in 2024, going 1-2 with a 9.58 ERA across 10 1/3 innings. He struck out eight batters, walked seven and allowed a .326 average against him. In 212 1/3 minor league innings, Dana has a 3.01 ERA and 244 strikeouts, 70 walks and a .198 average against him.

Jack Kochanowicz covered too many innings to be considered a prospect any longer, but he's in contention for a rotation spot. He made 11 starts for LA last season, going 2-6 with a 3.99 ERA across 65 1/3 innings - he struck out 25 batters and walked 10.

Sam Aldegheri, Camden Minacci, Ryan Costeiu and McDaniels are also on the team's list of top prospects. 

Aldegheri made three MLB starts in 2024, going 1-2 with a 4.85 ERA across 13 innings - he struck out 10 and walked 10, while allowing a .283 average. In 212 1/3 minor league innings, Aldegheri has a 3.60 ERA, 282 strikeouts, 93 walks and a .217 average against him.

Minacci has pitched 57 1/3 minor league innings, all out of the bullpen. He has a 3.61 ERA, 78 strikeouts, 23 walks and a .292 average against him.

Costeiu has worked 160 1/3 minor league innings since 2021. He has a 3.26 ERA, 192 punchouts, 60 walks and a .208 average against him.

Chase Silseth, Sam Bachman, Victor Mederos, George Klassen, Samy Natera Jr., Ryan Johnson, Austin Gordon, Kelvin Caceres, Jose Fermin and Chris Cortez are a big group of pitchers who are in big league camp with LA this year and are age 25 or below.