Los Angeles Angels vs Detroit Tigers Picks and Predictions May 2nd 2025

Trout Down, Spirits Shaky: Angels Back in Unwanted Territory

For the Los Angeles Angels, déjà vu strikes again — and not in a good way.

One of MLB’s most prolific superstars, Mike Trout, is heading back to the injured list with a bone bruise in his left knee, the same knee that required surgery last year and cut his season short after just 29 games. He had started all 29 of the Angels’ games this season before suffering the injury during a hustle play in Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners.

It happened in the blink of an eye: Trout sprinted to beat out an infield grounder, hit the first base bag hard with his left foot, and instantly looked uncomfortable. While he initially stayed in the game, he was later pulled and sat out Thursday’s contest, a 10-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers.

That game marked the Angels’ sixth straight defeat, and now, with Trout out indefinitely, they’ll need to find a spark elsewhere to get back on track.

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What’s the Diagnosis?

Thankfully, imaging showed no structural damage, but Angels manager Ron Washington didn’t hesitate to make a move.

“He has a bone bruise so we’re going to put him on the IL,” Washington told reporters. “It’s not significant, but he needs rest.”

Trout himself said he felt some tightness while jogging in the outfield and opted to be cautious.

“When it happened, it was just a weird feeling,” he said. “After getting treatment, it actually felt a little better. Hopefully, it’s just scar tissue breaking up.”

Unfortunately, cautious optimism won’t erase the hard truth: Trout has played more than 82 games in just one of the last five seasons. That’s not a stat anyone in Anaheim enjoys seeing.

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Tigers Roaring Into Game 2

The Detroit Tigers, on the other hand, are heading into Friday night’s contest with momentum and confidence. Winners of six of their last eight games, the Tigers are playing clean, smart baseball, and their pitching has been a huge reason why.

They’ll send Tarik Skubal (3-2, 2.34 ERA) to the mound — one of the early AL Cy Young front-runners and a pitcher who’s been nearly unhittable in 2024.

Skubal has allowed just two earned runs in his last four starts, posting a stunning 0.75 ERA over 24 innings. His success starts with an electric upper-90s fastball and one of the best changeups in baseball, a combination that’s throwing hitters into fits.

“He could throw all fastballs and still be hard to hit,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “But that changeup is something else. It just makes him impossible to time up.”

Skubal has also maintained elite control, walking just five hitters while striking out 40 in 34.2 innings.

Soriano Struggling to Stay Afloat

Taking the ball for the Angels is José Soriano (2-4, 4.50 ERA), who is in desperate need of a quality outing. The right-hander has dropped three consecutive starts, giving up 12 runs (11 earned) and 23 hits over just 14 innings — good for a 7.07 ERA in that stretch.

He’s faced the Tigers before, but only as a reliever last season, logging three innings and allowing one unearned run while taking a loss.

Soriano’s fastball has life, but command and consistency have been issues. If the Angels are going to stop their skid and even the series, they’ll need Soriano to be sharp — and they’ll need some support from a lineup that suddenly feels a lot thinner without Trout.

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Head-to-Head Breakdown: Skubal vs. Angels

Tarik Skubal has faced the Angels twice in his career and owns a tidy 1.98 ERA in those games. His ability to attack both sides of the plate with velocity and offspeed deception makes him a nightmare for any lineup — especially one missing its biggest bat.

The Angels will need big games from Taylor Ward, Brandon Drury, and Logan O’Hoppe, all of whom have shown flashes this season. However, facing a dominant left-hander like Skubal may limit opportunities unless they can capitalize early in the count.

Key Stats Snapshot

What’s at Stake?

For the Angels, the narrative is clear: end the losing streak, find offense without Trout, and avoid falling deeper into the AL West cellar. A win Friday would not only give them a breath of fresh air but also show they can compete even when their biggest star is out.

For the Tigers, it’s about proving they’re for real. With a potential series win looming, taking Game 2 on the road against a desperate team would be a statement. Their offense has been opportunistic, their bullpen solid, and their ace is on the bump. It’s the perfect setup to go up 2-0 in Anaheim.

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Final Word: Who’s Got the Edge?

It’s hard to bet against Skubal right now. He’s one of the hottest pitchers in baseball and gets to face an offense that’s missing its emotional and statistical leader.

Still, baseball has a funny way of flipping the script, especially when a team like the Angels is backed into a corner. If Soriano can keep things close and the bullpen can hold the line, a timely swing or two could be all they need.

But if Detroit jumps ahead early? This one could get away from LA — fast.