Full Breakdown
Angels Dismiss Pitching Staff Amid Historic Losing Season
8/12/2026, 12:41:29 AM
Core Event: Mid-Season Coaching Shakeup
On August 11, the Los Angeles Angels terminated pitching coach Mike Maddux, bullpen coach Dom Chiti, and assistant pitching coach Darryl Scott. Interim general manager John Mozeliak and first-year manager Kurt Suzuki named Tim Leveque as interim pitching coach and Michael Wuertz as interim bullpen coach.
Background & Context
The Angels entered 2026 with a one-year contract for manager Suzuki and a roster that has struggled on both sides of the ball. After dismissing GM Perry Minasian in late June, the club posted a 45-74 record—the worst in MLB and the 11th consecutive losing season. Pitching woes prompted the staff overhaul.
Data & Statistics
- Team record: 45-74 (worst in MLB).
- ERA: reported as 4.51 (some sources list 4.53).
- Walks: 508 total, the league worst, yielding an 11.1 % walk rate.
- WHIP: 1.38 (25th).
- Quality starts: 34 (tied for 24th).
- Saves: 16 (30th).
Official Statements & Responses
John Mozeliak said the organization discussed the coaching staff’s direction with Suzuki and concluded a change was necessary. He noted the club would use the interim period to evaluate further steps to improve pitching and position the team for future success.
Verbatim Quotes
- “After spending time discussing with Kurt where we are as a coaching staff and where we want to go in the future, we felt it was best to make a change,” — John Mozeliak.
Key Figures & Groups
- John Mozeliak – interim GM.
- Kurt Suzuki – first-year manager.
- Mike Maddux, Dom Chiti, Darryl Scott – dismissed coaches.
- Tim Leveque – interim pitching coach.
- Michael Wuertz – interim bullpen coach.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact ERA (4.51 vs. 4.53) and on presenting walks as a raw total versus a walk rate, but both indicate the Angels rank among the league’s worst. No source provides a detailed breakdown of the high walk rate’s causes or individual pitcher performance beyond occasional mentions of Reid Detmers and José Soriano.
What’s Next
Leveque and Wuertz will finish the remaining approximately 43 games. Mozeliak and Suzuki’s contracts expire at season’s end, and the organization will assess the coaching staff, front office, and managerial positions during the offseason.
