The Los Angeles Angels announced on Wednesday that flamethrowing reliever Ben Joyce is expected to miss the remainder of the 2025 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Joyce had not pitched since April 8.
The Angels went into the season with Joyce expected to be one of their top relievers. He burst onto the scene last season, tossing fastballs that topped out at 105 mph, and instantly became a pillar of the Angels’ pitching staff. They built the bullpen around Joyce as a set-up man in the offseason.
He had a 2.08 ERA and 1.154 WHIP in 34.2 innings last season. He only managed 4.1 innings in 2025 before hitting in the injured list. Without Joyce, the Angels have suffered greatly.
They have the worst bullpen ERA in the sport at 6.97. They have blown eight save opportunities already, a massive number for a team that is eight games under .500. And while Joyce had not performed well in his 4.1 innings, the Angels likely would have been better off with a healthy Joyce as an option for manager Ron Washington.
Without Joyce, the Angels have had a steady dose of Ryan Zeferjahn, Ryan Johnson, Brock Burke and Reid Detmers to help set up Kenley Jansen. Although save opportunities have become fewer and farther between in recent weeks.
Angels fall to Padres
Xander Bogaerts launched a three-run homer in the first inning and Randy Vásquez tossed six strong innings to lead the San Diego Padres to a 5-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.
Manny Machado continued his hot streak, extending his hitting streak to 13 games with two hits and two walks. Brandon Lockridge tacked on a two-run single in the eighth to seal the victory as the Padres claimed the series, taking two of three from the Angels.
San Diego has won 10 of its last 14 games, staying within reach of the NL West-leading Dodgers.
Taylor Ward accounted for the Angels’ lone run with a solo homer in the second inning — his second long ball of the series — but Los Angeles has dropped 13 of its last 18 games.
Vásquez (3-3) delivered his third consecutive quality start, allowing just four hits, walking one, and striking out five. Three relievers followed with three hitless innings, helping stabilize a bullpen that had surrendered late leads in five of the previous six contests. Closer Robert Suarez bounced back with a perfect ninth after a rough outing Monday.
Angels starter Kyle Hendricks (1-5) recovered well after the first inning, holding the Padres scoreless over the subsequent five frames while allowing just five total hits.
