Walbert Ureña Struggles as Angels Fall to Royals

Apr 25, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Los Angeles Angels pitcher Walbert Urena (57) pitches during the first inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Kauffman Stadium.

(© Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images)

For the Los Angeles Angels, it was a difficult night for Walbert Ureña. The right-hander lasted just 3 ⅔ innings, surrendering six hits and four earned runs while walking four and striking out three. He needed 81 pitches to get through his outing, landing only 44 for strikes.

This marked Ureña’s second start since being recalled and transitioning from the bullpen; the growing pains were evident. His command wavered throughout the outing, with walks and deep counts preventing him from settling into any sort of rhythm.

Walks Create Early Trouble

The biggest issue for Ureña was his inability to consistently throw strikes. Free passes and hitter-friendly counts allowed Kansas City to generate traffic early and often. That added pressure mounted quickly, forcing Ureña to pitch out of jams and ultimately shortening his night.

Allowing extra baserunners proved costly, as the Royals capitalized on those opportunities and built a lead the Angels could not recover from.

Defensive Miscues Add to Problems

The Angels didn’t do themselves any favors defensively, as sloppy play from the infield compounded their pitching issues.

Zach Neto and Oswald Peraza each committed errors, with Peraza charged with a fielding miscue and Neto a throwing error. Those mistakes would extend innings and create additional opportunities for Kansas City.