In the Los Angeles Angels 7-4 loss on Tuesday, a forgotten piece to that game was the performance from Touki Toussaint, who shut out the New York Yankees for five innings.
Toussaint was brought over the from Atlanta Braves after disappointing results and an Angels’ need for pitching. He isn’t a bad pitcher, he just has dealt with location issues for the entirety of his big league career.
A 13.7 percent career walk rate and 5.39 ERA in 56 career games is enough to see the blueprint, but one aspect about Toussaint’s game has never wavered, his pure stuff. After manager Phil Nevin called him into Tuesday’s game in a relief effort, he was near perfect for five innings, allowing only one hit to a Yankees lineup that is top-five in baseball, via Jeff Fletcher of the O.C. Register:
“I’ve been working constantly with (pitching coach Matt Wise) and (bullpen coach Dom Chiti) to kind of clean up my delivery and get me to be able to repeat it,” Toussaint said. “Being an athlete like I am, sometimes it’s easier than others. That’s what makes me able to play at this level, but it’s also what hurts. Just trying to fine-tune things and find that groove.”
Toussaint has had blips on his season when he’s downright unhittable, and that stuff was on display on Tuesday. Repeating his mechanics and finding his rhythm are two areas he hasn’t been able to match up for extended periods of time, but he’s still electric.
“That’s the M.O. on him,” Manager Phil Nevin said. “If he keeps it in the zone, he’s very difficult to hit. There’s so much movement.”
Toussaint has team control through 2025 as he enters his first year of arbitration next season.
Michael Lorenzen nearing return
The Los Angeles Angels are planning for next season and looking to bridge the gap between now and the end of September. Right-hander Michael Lorenzen has been on the injured list since July 7 but could soon be a part of manager Phil Nevin’s starting staff.
Lorenzen last pitched on July 1 against the Houston Astros, but after last just three innings, he left with seven earned runs and only three strikeouts. That marked his second consecutive outing of just three innings and ultimately hit the IL with discomfort in his throwing shoulder.
After progressing through his rehab, Lorenzen is scheduled to be back with the Angels in the coming weeks.
More must-reads: