Angels Enter Final 10 Games Hoping to Avoid First 100-Loss Season

A .500 record, the sporting definition of mediocrity. The Los Angeles Angels will need to meet or exceed that level of performance over the next 10 days if they are to maintain their status as the only franchise in MLB history that has never lost 100 games in a season.

It’s pretty fair to say that the fields have been pretty fallow for the Angels since the 2002 World Series triumph, along with the five AL West titles in six seasons from 2004-09. They did win the AL West in 2014 during franchise icon Mike Trout‘s first MVP season, but were subsequently swept in the ALDS by the Royals. The team’s best finish since then was second in 2017, though even then they had an 80-82 record, which has turned into the second of what will be 11 straight losing seasons when the 2026 campaign concludes.

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There were also some lean years earlier in the franchise’s 66-year existence, including 94-plus-loss seasons in 1968, 1974 and 1980.

Despite that, the Angels have always managed to avoid joining the 100-loss club.

Their closest brush with that ignominy came two seasons ago in 2024. That year, they recorded win No. 63 in their 156th game. It’s a good thing they did because they then proceeded to lose their final six games, including a three-game sweep at the hands of the Chicago White Sox, who were on their way to losing a modern-day record 121 games.

So, do the Angels have the ability, the gumption, and, most importantly, the pride to be at least mediocre over the final 10 games?

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That may be easier said than done.

While the Angels enter the final 10 games of the season needing to post at least a 5-5 record, they definitely do not enter the home stretch on a heater. They stand at an overall 58-94, a winning percentage of .382 that is obviously well below .500.

They are also only 5-9 in September with the thrill of taking two of three at Fenway Park from the playoff-bound Boston Red Sox on Sept. 8 and 9 quickly dampened by a trio of one-run losses to the Washington Nationals. They did take two of three against the Seattle Mariners earlier this week, in the process ensuring that Seattle would finish below .500 this season, so that’s something.

On the other hand, the schedule ahead is not daunting as they face a trio of sub-.500 clubs: home for four with the Minnesota Twins (71-81 entering Thursday), followed by two in West Sacramento against the A’s (61-91) and a season-ending four-game trip to Seattle (71-82). There is also a minute chance the Angels can finish fourth in the AL West by making up three games on the A’s, who, in addition to their two-game series against LA next week, close the season with seven games against the playoff-hunting Cleveland Guardians and Houston Astros.

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That’s the good news; the bad news is that LA is a combined 11-14 against their three upcoming opponents this season: 1-2 against Minnesota, 5-6 against the A’s and 5-6 against Seattle.

The quest to avoid a century of “Ls” begins tonight at the Big A with Walbert Urena (9-10, 2.88 ERA) squaring off with Minnesota’s Taj Bradley (11-6, 3.81 ERA). Probables for the remainder of the series are Connor Prielipp vs. Grayson Rodriguez on Friday, Joe Ryan vs. Reid Detmers on Saturday and Dean Kremer vs. Ryan Johnson on Sunday. Then the Angels head up the coast, hoping to return on Sept. 27 with fewer than 100 losses on their 2026 ledger.