The Los Angeles Angels plan to use an opener before pitcher Alek Manoah's next outing against the Cleveland Guardians. Manoah recently returned to action, delivering a scoreless inning with one strikeout.
The MLB regular season has reached the seven-week mark. While the season remains young, several teams have already established themselves with strong starts.
The Los Angeles Angels, however, have struggled out of the gate. Still, the club recently received a boost with the return of veteran pitcher Alek Manoah.
After easing Manoah back into action against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Angels watched him deliver a scoreless inning with one strikeout. The team appears to have a clear plan for his next outing on Monday.
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Reports indicate the Angels will use an opener ahead of Manoah on Monday against the Cleveland Guardians before turning to him shortly after the first inning.

The strategy reflects the organizationās effort to gradually work Manoah back into a full-time rotation role. His return comes at an important time, with the Angels sitting nine games below .500.
Manoah did not pitch in the majors during the 2025 season. He performed well in the minors before an injury stalled his path back to the big leagues.
After spending time in the minor league systems of the Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves, Manoah signed with the Angels in free agency this offseason. A hand injury delayed his debut, but he now appears ready for regular action.
Alek Manoah is a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels, recently returning to the team and contributing with a scoreless inning.
The Angels are set to play against the Cleveland Guardians following Alek Manoah's return to the mound.
The Angels plan to use an opener before Alek Manoah pitches in his next game to ease him back into action.
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Even so, the Angelsā cautious approach makes sense given that Manoah had not appeared in a major league game since 2024. While few expect him to immediately transform the rotation, he could still become a valuable contributor.

Manoah earned an All-Star selection during his time with Toronto, highlighted by his standout 16-7 campaign in 2022. This performance helped the Blue Jays secure a Wild Card berth.
Since that breakout season, however, Manoah has struggled to regain consistency. He posted a combined 4-11 record across the 2023 and 2024 seasons. However, the organization demoted him to the minors and eventually designated him for assignment.
Now, Manoah has an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to revive his career. The question is whether he can rediscover the form that made him one of baseballās top young pitchers in 2022.